Module 12 - Renal Failure Flashcards
Renal Medulla
Inner part of the kidney made of renal pyramids and tubular structures
Renal Cortex
Outer layer of the kidney
Renal Artery
supplies blood to the kidney
Renal Pyramid
channels output to renal pelvis for excretion
this is where the collecting ducts come together
Renal Calyx
channels connecting the renal pyramids to the renal pelvis
Renal Vein
about 99% of filtered blood is circulated through this vein
1% contains waste products and undergoes further processing
Renal Pelvis
Blood containing waste products forms urine here and is channeled away
Ureter
tube that terminates in the urethra
A lot of blood exchange happening in the kidneys occurs at …
the distal and proximal tubules (they help maintain acid base, fluid and electrolyte balances)
Both the distal and proximal tubules are involved in ___
reabsorption
Along with reabsorption, the distal tubule is involved in ___
excretion
Filtrate
the filtering fluid in the kidneys until nothing else is removed in which is becomes urine and is excreted
Parenchymal Tissue of the Kidney
Nephron
___ flow goes to the nephron
Arteriole
Afferent Arteriole
carries arteriole blood toward the Bowman’s Capsule
hydrostatic pressure going into the glomerulus
Efferent Arteriole
Carries arteriole blood away from the Bowman’s Capsule
hydrostatic pressure coming out of the glomerulus
What controls arteriole flow
pressure
Bowman’s Capsule
capsule surrounding the filter of the kidney, the Glomerulus
contains the glomerulus and acts as a filter for the urine/filtrate
Glomerulus
the filter of the kidney
A network of twisted capillaries acting as a filter for the passage of protein free and RBC free filtrate
What is abnormal to see go through the Bowmans capsule and why?
Normally in health, proteins and RBCs are too large to get through the bowman’s capsule - if proteins or RBC are in urine than that is abnormal
What is the pathway to through the nephron
Afferent Arteriole –> Bowmans Capsule and Glomerulus –> Proximal Convoluted Tubule –> Loop of Henle –> Distal Convoluted Tubule –> Collecting duct –> renal pyramids –> ureters –> Bladder –> Urethra and exit
Medullary Nephrons
Nephrons that go deeper into the kidney
since they are deeper they have greater urine concentrating ability, but will be damaged sooner
Cortical Nephrons
more shallow nephrons with lower concentrating ability
Why are Medullary nephrons injured before cortical ones?
Because of impaired/compromised blood flow
The deeper the medullary nephron goes…
the greater the ability to concentrate urine - but also the first to be damaged
Concentrating gradients of the kidney..
increase as you go from the cortex to the inner most layer
Proximal Convoluted Tubule (PCT)
Site of reabsorption of glucose, AA, metabolites, and electrolytes from filtrate
Reabsorbed substances returned to circulation
Loop of Henle
A U Shaped section of the nephron tubule located in the medulla
Extends from the PCT to the DCT
site for further concentration of filtrate through reabsorption
Distal Convoluted Tubule (DCT)
site from which filtrate enters the collecting tubules
Collecting Tubules/Ducts
Releases urine to the ureter
What does glucose do in the kidney in health
it will be reabsorbed, it is a small molecule that can pass through, but the body wants and gets it back
What area of the nephron reabsorbs glucose and other small substances?
PCT
Glucose in the urine is ___
abnormal
The concentrating mechanism of the nephron is …
the loop of Henle
What happens if you lose the loop of Henle?
You cannot concentrate filtrate/urine - isosthenuria
Nocturia will also occur
Isosthenuria
urine with the same concentration as the blood
this is d/t damage to the loop of Henle which is unable to reabsorb anything and concentrate the urine
What is one of the first signs of kidney damage
Nocturia - getting up a lot at night since more urine is made and not concentrated
What area of the nephron has acid base balance occur due to bicarbonate?
DCT
What area of the kidney does not have concentration occur?
DCT
In the kidney, Vascular pressure means…
hydrostatic pressure (push)
Ureters
16-18” muscular tubes that contract rhythmically to transport urine from each kidney to the bladder
tubes
Urinary Bladder
sac with muscular walls that collects and holds urine that is expelled from the ureters every few seconds
storage
detrusor muscle wall
Urethra
narrow tube leading out of the body through which urine is expelled from the bladder
In the nephron the fluid is ___, but you excrete ___
filtrate; urine
The kidney makes urine in __
drops
3 Steps of Waste Collection and Elimination in the Kidney
- Glomerular Filtration
- Tubular Reabsorption
- Tubular Secretion
Glomerular Filtration
Filtering the blood that flows through the kidney’s blood vessels, or glomeruli
It is like spraying water through a T shirt with only small things getting through, nothing large - but what filters depends on intactness of membrane and pressure applied!
Tubular Reabsorption
reabsorbing filtered fluid through the minute canals (tubules) that make up the kidney
Products going back to the body from the filtrate to the blood
Tubular Secretion
Release of filtered substances by the tubules
How are secretion and excretion different?
Secretion is moving things from one place in the body to another place in the body - like K into Urine
Excretion is moving things from inside the body to outside the body - like urinating
Tubular Reabsorption and Secretion/Excretion occur where?
In the PCT and DCT (both of them)
What kind of processes are reabsorption, secretion, and excretion
they can be active processes needing energy or a co transporter, OR they can be a passive process with a concentration gradient
What are the basic functions of the kidneys?
- Water, electrolyte, and acid base HOMEOSTAWSIS
- Excretion of nitrogenous metabolic waste products: urea, uric acid, and creatinine
- Detoxifying drugs, toxins, and their metabolites
- Endocrine regulation of ECF volume and blood pressure: RAA and ADH
- Secretion of erythropoietin to simulate RBC production
- Endocrine control of calcium and phosphate metabolism: Activation of vitamin D and excretion of phosphates
- Catabolism of hormones like insulin, glucagon, parathyroid hormone, calcitonin, and GH
How can penicillin display the renal detoxification ability
Penicillin is actively secreted by the PCT so it is in an inactive form !
Aldosterone holds…
Sodium and water follows that
If you hold sodium…
you rid potassium
How is RAA activated
Low flow states activate sensors in the JGA near the glomerulus (so pressure or amounts of sodium) which causes RAA to get aldosterone to act on DCT (late part) and the collecting duct (where ADH works) as an osmoregulor
What is the end result of RAA/ADH
increased circulating volume in response to low pressure in the kidneys
Where does Aldosterone work
on the DCT (late part)
Where does ADH work
on the collecting duct
How is ADH activated
it is secreted in response to sensors in the hypothalamus
The posterior pituitary will release ADH to increase circulating water
ADH governs ___
water
When does the kidney release erythropoietin
release when there is low O2 to stimulate RBC production and maturation
Why does the kidney activate Vitamin D?
to have endocrine control of calcium and phosphate metabolism
it will control calcium maintenance and cause ridding of phosphates
Kidneys are __ organs
selfish organs
they can and will shut everything else down
Chronic Renal Failure Diagnostic Tests
- radiographs or ultrasound
- Serum abnormalities in BUN, creatinine, creatinine clearance, and GFR
- Low plasma pH
- Anemia
What can X Rays show us about the kidneys
can only show size, not much else
could show a small, atrophied kidney
What can ultrasounds tell us about the kidneys
they can show small, cystic lesions and also whether the kidneys are solid
can tell us about mass and fluids
BUN increases with what?
- Dehydration
- Renal Failure/Insufficiency
Is BUN a specific test that can diagnose renal failure?
No
What is a better indicator of renal failure diagnosis than BUN?
Creatinine
Elevated creatinine levels tell us…
about kidney dysfunction
What are the best 2 diagnostics for diagnosing renal failure
- Creatinine Clearance
- Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)
Why may low plasma pH tell us about kidney failure
It means the blood is acidic and there is a potential METABOLIC acidosis occurring
RR will be faster and deeper to blow off CO2 to compensate
How can Anemia tell us there is a renal issue
there is no erythropoietin secreted to make new RBC or mature RBC since the kidney is not working
Oxygenation can also be affected from free floating urea in the blood too
What is something else that can contribute to anemia regarding kidney failure other than Erythropoietin issues?
High concentrations of urea bathing the RBCs and making them not function as well or live as long
There is then less oxygenation
What may electrolyte levels look like on lab tests of diminished renal function?
- Na+ - normal or decreased
- Cl- - normal or decreased
- K+ - normal or increased
- CO2 (Bicarb) - Decrease
- Ca+2 - Decrease
- Phosphorus - Increase
Why may potassium levels be high or normal with renal issues? Why is this bad?
The kidney has problems ridding of potassium with insufficiencies
This is bad because K works on resting membrane potential and cardiac function and can cause issues there
Never give what without showing the kidneys are working first?
IV Potassium
Calcium and Phosphorus has a ___ relationship
inverse
Why is the relationship between calcium and phosphorus important in renal issues?
hyperphosphatemia and hypocalcemia can occur (which sets the threshold for heart cell firing usually)
this can cause rhythm disturbances or abnormalities
How can ABGs tell us about diminished renal function
There is metabolic acidosis with renal failure since bicarbonate is not reabsorbed to rid of acids
Also CO2 on a venous panel will be low representing bicarbonate and we may see RR rate changes to compensate
So, Bicarbonate levels would be low indicating renal issues
Why is BUN a poor indicator of renal function
It rises also in dehydration, GI bleeds, and renal failure
What is creatinine reabsorption usually like
It normally is not reabsorbed and is secreted by tubules
But this level will increase in renal failure
What other things are creatinine levels dependent on?
Renal Clearance
Muscle Mass (higher means higher creatinine)
Sex
Age (muscle masses)
Is creatinine a good indicator by itself?
While rising levels usually indicate RF, this is not a good indicator by itself
Normal BUN:Creatinine Ratio
1:10
What is a renal failure BUN:Creatinine Ratio
> 20:1
Azotemia
accumulation of nitrogenous waste in blood (urea, creatinine, others)
If you see azotemia, you know what?
There is likely renal failure from nitrogenous things gathering in blood
The best indicator of kidney function is …
Creatinine Clearance
Clearance
refers to the complete removal of a substance form the blood
it is the amount of blood that can be cleared in a specific amount of time — how long it takes for product to get out of the blood (time dependent)
Creatinine Clearance
volume of blood in mL that the kidneys can clear of creatinine in 1 minute
Why is Creatinine Clearance the most accurate measure of GFR
It acts as the most accurate measure of Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) since creatinine is filtered by the glomeruli but not reabsorbed by the tubules
Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)
the rate at which the glomeruli filter blood
its about 120 mL/minute (about half a can of soda every minute)