physiology Flashcards
what is osmolarity?
the concentration of osmotically active particles present in a solution
what is the difference between osmolarity and osmolality?
osmolarity = units of osmol/L
osmolality = units of osmol/kg water
both can be used interchangeably
hypo vs hypertonic?
hypo = more water
hyper = less water
do males or females have higher total body water?
males
(males 60% of body weight, females 50%)
what is insensible loss of water?
loss of water there is no control over- e.g. via skin and lungs
what is sensible loss of water?
loss of water where there is some physiological control e.g. sweat, faeces, urine
are sodium ions in higher concentration inside or outside the cells?
outside is higher (140) than inside (10)
are potassium ions in higher concentration inside or outside the cells?
inside is higher (140) than outside (4.5)
what is the osmotic concentration of both intra and extracellular fluid (ICF and ECF)?
300 mosmol/l (osmolarity)
what happens to ECF and ICF osmolarity in gain or loss of water?
similar changes in both ECF and ICF
what happens to ECF and ICF osmolarity in gain or loss of NaCl?
ECF NaCl gain = increased ECF osmolarity, decreased ICF
ECF NaCl loss = decreased ECF, increased ICF
what happens to ECF and ICF osmolarity in gain or loss of isotonic fluid?
no change in osmolarity, change in ECF volume only
what happens if there is a change in potassium concentration in the plasma?
muscle weakness –> paralysis
cardiac irregularities –> cardiac arrest
how is salt imbalance manifested?
changes in extracellular volume
what are the 10 functions of the kidney?
- Water balance
- Salt balance
- Maintenance of plasma volume
- Maintenance of plasma osmolarity
- Acid-base balance
- Excretion of metabolic waste products (e.g.)
- Excretion of exogenous foreign compounds (e.g.)
- Secretion of renin (control of arterial blood pressure)
- Secretion of erythropoietin (EPO; RBC production)
- Conversion of vitamin D into active form (Calcitriol: Ca2+ absorption in GI tract)
what is the primary function of the kidney?
to regulate the volume, composition and osmolarity of the body fluids
what is the functional unit of the kidneys?
nephrons- each kidney has 1 million +
what are the functional mechanisms of the nephron?
- Filtration
- Reabsorption
- Secretion
what is the difference between efferent and afferent?
efferent = away from (e for exit)
afferent = towards
what are the 2 types of nephron?
juxtamedullary (20%)
cortical (80%)
which type of nephron had a bigger loop of henle?
juxtamedullary
what surrounds the glomerulrus?
bowman’s capsule
what do granular cells in the juxtaglomerular apparatus do?
produce and secrete renin
what is urine?
modified filtrate of the blood
how much of the plasma that enters the glomerulus is filtered?
20%
is filtration a passive or active process?
passive
what are the 4 forces comprising net filtration pressure?
glomerular capillary pressure
capillary oncotic pressure
bowman’s capsule hydrostatic (fluid) pressure
bowman’s capsule oncotic pressure
what is GFR and what is a normal GFR?
GFR = rate at which protein-free plasma is filtered from the glomeruli into the Bowman’s capsule per unit time
normal = 125ml/min
what affect does arterial bp have on GFR?
vasoconstriction –> decreased glomerular capillary bp –> decreased net filtration pressure –> decreased GFR
vasodilation is the opposite so:
vasodilation –> increased glomerular capillary bp –> increased net filtration pressure –> increased GFR
describe myogenic autoregulation of the kidneys
if vascular smooth muscle is stretched (arterila bp increased) it contracts constricting arteriole
describe tubuloglomerular feedback autoregulation of the kidneys
involves juxtaglomerular apparatus, if GFR rises, more NaCl flows through the tubule leading to constriction of afferent arterioles
what cells sense salt content of tubular fluid?
macula densa cells