Lect 12: Regulation of Plasma Osmolarity Flashcards
Body Balance
gain of water = loss of water
Urine excretion is Regulated
How does the kidney preserve normal ECF osmolarity?
it is achieved by the ability of the kidney to maximize (concentrate) or minimize (dilute) the osmolarity of the urine in response to increases and decreases in ECF osmolarity
When the ratio of urine to plasma osmolarity (U/P) = 1
the urine is isotonic and ECF osmolarity is isotonic?
When the ratio U/P osmo > 1
the urine is hyperosmotic and ECF osmolarity is also hypertonic.
==>The kidney compensates for this by excreting a urine that is much more hypertonic than the plasma
When the ratio of U/P osmo < 1
the urine is hypotonic and ECF osmolarity is hypotonic? But the urine is much more hypotonic (dilute) than the plasma
When you are dehydrated and are volume contracted with high ECF osmo, the way that the kidney corrects for this is
excreting a urine that is more conc than plasma (higher osmolarity) …..and vice versaa
The formation and excretion of a hypertonic urine indicates
the kidney is responding to minimize plasma hyperosmolarity by retaining water in excess of solutes or “free water” which is water not osmotically obligated to remain in the tubular fluid due to the presence of solutes.
The formation of a hypotonic urine indicates
the kidney is responding to minimize and correct plasma hypoosmolarity by eliminating water in excess of solutes
increased plasma osmolarity does what to ADH?
it will induce an increase in ADH , which results in retention of free water by the kidney (water pulled out of the fluid and rreturned to the circ) and a hypertonic/concentrate urine.
decreased plasma osmolarity does what to ADH
decreases ADH which results in the elimination of free water by the kidney and a hypotonic urine.
The challenge of the kidney is to maintain plasma and ECF osmolarity within the normal range (280-300) is met by regulating the excretion of
water
Where water intake is high the solutes were excreted in large volumes of dilute urine (600/30 = 20mOsm/L). Lots of water consumed, lots of water excreted.
Normally: Osmolar excretion (E) = Uosm x V
Uosm=600
V = 1.5L
So typically E= 600/1.5L/day ==400mOsm. So our typical urine osmolarity is 400mOsm.
Based on how much you consume this number can go up or down. Let’s say that you increase water intake and your Uosm reduces to 30mOsm. How much would your new osmolar volume (V) be? 600/30 = 20L/day…this is it max that your urine volume can become.
Where water intake is low the solutes were excreted in small volumes of concentrated urine. Little water taken in, little water excreted (600/1200)
Normally: Osmolar excretion (E) = Uosm x V
Uosm=600
V = 1.5L
So typically E= 600/1.5L/day ==400mOsm. So our typical urine osmolarity is 400mOsm.
Based on how much you consume this number can go up or down. Let’s say that you reduce your water intake, the kidney can increase Uosm to as high as 1200mOsm. So therefore your new volume would be 1200/600 = 1.5L/day (Notice that Uosm DOES NOT CHANGE. It was the volume of urine that changed based on your water intake)
Where water intake was high the solutes were excreted in large volume of dilute urine
and where water intake was low, the solute were excreted in a small volume of concentrated urine
A deficit of water consumption concentrates and increases plasma osmolarity
The most effective way to minimize this increase in plasma osmolarity is to minimize the excretion of the water without a change in the excretion of solute.
==>A decrease in solute excretion (increased solute reabsorption) would increase plasma osmolarity.