Loop of Henle

Question 1

• Where is the loop of Henle located?

Answer 1

In the medulla

Question 2

• What cell types line the loop of Henle?

Answer 2

Simple squamous (thin segment) & simple cuboidal (thick segment)

Question 3

• Which area of the loop of Henle is highly permeable to water?

Answer 3

Descending limb

Question 4

• In which areas does no active salt transport take place?

Answer 4

Descending limb and thin ascending limb

Question 5

• In which area does active transport of Na+ and Cl- take place?

Answer 5

Thick ascending limb

Question 6

• What draws water out of the descending limb?

Answer 6

Pumping of solutes out of the ascending limb

Question 7

• What does the loop of Henle create?

Answer 7

Hypertonic medullary interstitium, which withdraws water from the collecting ducts

Question 8

• What mechanism is responsible for generating very hypertonic conditions in the renal medulla?

Answer 8

Active Na+ reabsorption in thick ascending loop of Henle

Question 9

• What are the vasa recta?

Answer 9

Blood vessels supplying the medullary regions of the kidney, arranged in a U configuration

Question 10

• What area of the renal tubules is permeable to urea?

Answer 10

Lower portion of collecting tubule

Question 11

• What happens to fluid in the loop of Henle?

Answer 11

Fluid becomes increasingly more concentrated as it flows down descending limb, fluid becomes progressively more concentrated as it flows up ascending limb