Physiology Flashcards
What is osmolarity? The unit of osmolarity is ____
The concentration of osmotically active particles present in a solution. Osmol/L
What is the osmolarity of 150mmol/L NaCl? Explain why
Concentration = 150mmol/L number of osmotically active particles = 2 (1xNa & 1xCl) 150 x 2 = 300mosmol/L
What is the osmolarity of 100mmol/L MgCl2? explain why.
Concentration = 100mmol/L number of osmotically active particles = 3 (1xMg & 2xCl) 100 x 3 = 300mosmol/L
The osmolarity of the human body is approximately ______
300mosmol/L
Define tonicity
Tonicity is the effect that a solution has on cell volume if a cell is placed in that solution.
Explain hypo/iso/hypertonic
isotonic - no change in cell volume, no net movement of water Hypotonic - increase in cell volume, water moves from outside to inside cell. Hypertonic - decrease in cell volume, water moves from inside cell to outside.
Using urea and sucrose with RBCs as examples, explain why membrane permeability must be taken into account when thinking about tonicity?
- Osmolarity of both is approximately 300mosmol/L. - Urea is much more permeable than sucrose so moves in RBCs immediately and change osmolarity - therefore water follows - Cell will lyse - Sucrose is isotonic - does not move into cells - no net changes in water volumes/cell volume as osmolarity inside and out is the same.
70% of male and female body weight is water - true/false?
false - 60% of males/50% of females
Females have a lower total body water percentage than males - true/false. If true, explain.
True Women have a higher body fat percentage (22-25% F/15-18%M) and fat cells contain very little water.
The two main fluid compartments in the body are ____ & _____, which are separated by _______.
Intracellular and extracellular, separated by the plasma membrane.
What proportion of the total body water is in each fluid compartment?
2/3rds (67%) intracellular 1/3rds (33%) extracellular
The extracellular fluid compartment can be split into what constituents? What percentage of fluid lies in each compartment?
Interstitial fluid - 80% Plasma - 20% Transcellular fluid (e.g. CSF and intrapleural fluid) - negligible Lymph - negligible
Which tracers are used to calculate each fluid compartment’s volume?
Total Body Water = 3H2O
Plasma = Albumin
inulin = ECF
If there is no direct way to measure intracellular fluid volume, how might we calculate it indirectly?
We can detect the volume of TBW and the volume of the ECF directly using the tracers (3H2O for TBW, Inulin for ECF) and then realise that TBW = ECF + ICF
therefore ICF = TBW - ECF.
Explain the dilution principle for measuring the fluid volumes of distribution in the body.
If you add a known amount of a tracer to an unknown volume, you can work out the volume by taking off a small, known volume and calculating the concentration of your tracer in that volume. Scale up for 1L and then use:
Volume = Dose/Concentration
where dose is the total amount of tracer used.
Approximately how much of our fluid intake comes from each of the following sources:
- Food
- Fluids
- Metabolism
What percentage of daily intake does that equate to?
- Food = 1200ml/day = 48%
- Fluid = 1000ml/day = 40%
- Metabolism = 300ml/day = 12%
total = 2500ml
What are insensible fluid losses?
What are sensible fluid losses?
Skin & lungs are insensible
Sweat, faeces and urine are sensible losses
How much fluid on average is lost each day from the following sources:
- Urine =
- Faeces =
- Sweat =
- Lungs =
- Skin =
What percentage of daily loss does each equate to?
- Urine = 1500ml/day = 60%
- Faeces = 200ml/day = 8%
- Sweat = 100ml/day = 4%
- Skin = 350ml/day = 14%
- Lungs = 350ml/day = 14%
Total = 2500ml/day
Sodium concentration is greater outside the cell than inside - true/false
True - think of it as we all evolved from sea creatures so our cells like to be surrounded in salt (sodium and chloride ions much higher concentration in ECF than ICF)
ICF is lower in potassium than ECF -true or false
False
Chloride and bicarb are of higher concentrations in the ICF than the ECF - true/false
False - higher in the ECF than the ICF
if the concentrations of solutes are different in the ICF and ECF, how does the cell regulate the concentrations in each?
the membrane is a selectively permeable membrane with transporter molecules specific for each ion - e.g. the sodium/potassium-ATPase pump which pumps sodium out of and potassium into cells.
There is a difference in osmolarity in the ECF and ICF due to the difference of sodium and potassium concentrations - true/false
False - the ECF and ICF have identical osmolarity as any changes in osmotic gradient cause a movement of water to change the osmolarity back to equilibrium.
Gain of loss of water from one fluid compartment will cause a compensatory shift in the other compartment - e.g. if water is lost from ECF, water will move from the ICF to the ECF to restore equilibrium - true/false
True
Gain of loss of isotonic fluids e.g. 0.9% saline will cause no change in osmolality but will cause an increase in the volume of the ECF and ICF - true/false
False - only increases ECF.
More than 95% of the ECF osmolarity comes from sodium salts - true/false
False - more than 90% comes from sodium salts
How does sodium concentration influence volume of the ECF
- increases osmolarity in a fluid
- water follows sodium
- e.g. increased sodium in the plasma, water is drawn into plasma
- e.g. increased sodium in renal filtrate, water drawn into renal filtrate
Potassium ions form a key role in the establishment of which physiological process?
the formation of the membrane potential.
_____% of the body’s potassium is intracellular.
95%
The kidneys produce _____ml/min of urine
1ml/min of urine
the kidney secretes ______ and _______. It also converts vitamin D into its active/inactive form (________)
the kidney secretes renin and erythropoeitin. It also converts vitamin D into its active form (calcitriol)
Primary function of the Kidney is _______
To regulate the volume, composition and osmolarity of bodily fluids.
Collectively the kidneys recieve ______% of total cardiac output
20%
The cortex appears ______ while the medulla appears ________
The cortex appears granulated, the medulla appears striped.
Where do the peritubular capillaries run?
They run along the tubules very closely and are the capillaries both involved in the reabsorption/secretion of substances and supplying the nephron.
how many cells thick are the tubular walls?
1 cell thick
When does the filtrate become urine?
Only when it passes into the minor calyx as it doesn’t undergo any more changes after the collecting ducts.
The two types of nephron are _________ & ___________
the two types of nephron are Juxtamedullary and Cortical
What is the difference between the two types of nephrons?
Juxtamedullary:
- Longer loop of henlé
- single capillary called the vasa recta which follows loop of henlé
Cortical
- Shorter loop of henlé
- network of peritubular capillaries.
What is the purpose of a juxtamedullary nephron?
it allows us to produce very concentrated urine.
In the glomerulus the ______ arteriole is wider than the _______ arteriole.
Afferent arteriole is wider than the efferent arteriole
Compare the filtrate to blood
Exactly the same; minus large proteins and cells
What three processes happen in the nephron?
- Glomerular filtration
- Tubular Secretion
- Tubular Reabsorption
The renal tubule is described as like a conveyor belt; explain?
As the urine is passing through the tubules, things are added (secreted from the blood) and things are removed reabsorption
Filtration + _________ = Excretion + _________
Filtration + secretion = excretion + reabsorption
Rate of excretion = _______________
Rate of excretion = (Rate of filtration + secretion) - rate of absorption
Rate of filtration = __________
Rate of filtration of substance X = [Xplasma] x GFR
Rate of excretion of Substance X = ______________
Rate of excretion of substance x = [X]Urine x VU
What is VU?
Flow rate of Urine
Rate of reabsorption of substance X = ______________
Can this be measured directly?
Rate of absorption of substance X = rate of filtration of X - Rate of secretion of X
if Filtration is greater than secretion; this is net filtration
Rate of Secretion of substance X = _________________
Rate of Secretion of substance X = Rate of excretion - rate of filtration
If rate of excretion > rate of filtration, this is net secretion
For chloride, the following values are true. Calculate rate of filtration/excretion and decide if this is overall net secretion or reabsorption. What is the magnitude of the net effect?
- [Cl-]Plasma = 110mmol/L
- [Cl-]Urine = 200mmol/L
- GFR = 0.12L/min
- VU = 0.001L/min
- [Cl-]Plasma = 110mmol/L
- [Cl-]Urine = 200mmol/L
- GFR = 0.12L/min
- VU = 0.001L/min
Rate of filtration = [Cl-]Plasma X GFR = 110 x 0.12 = 13.2mmol/min
Rate of excretion = [Cl-]Urine X VU = 200 x 0.001 = 0.2mmol/min
Rate of filtration > rate of excretion
therefore; this is net reabsorption
Magnitude = filtration - secretion = 13.2 - 0.2 = 13mmol/min reabsorbed.
(sorry for all the BS on the card!!)
What are the three filtration barriers to glomerular filtration? What does each provide a barrier to?
Glomerular capillary endothelium - barrier to RBCs
basal Lamina (basal membrane) - barrier to plasma proteins
Slit process of podocytes - barrier to plasma proteins
The Endothelial cells have very large/small pores in them
The endothelial cells have very large pores in between them
How does the basement membrane prevent the entry of large proteins into the glomerular filtrate?
It is made up of no cells, but has lots of collagen and glycoproteins. this gives it a net negative charge. Plasma proteins have a net negative charge. therefore they repel each other.
What cells make up the basement membrane of the glomerulus?
trick question - no cells; made up of collagen and glycoproteins
The process of filtration is active - true/false
False - it is entirely passive
There are __ pressures which maintain filtration - name them and their approximate size (mm Hg)
4 pressure
Glomerular filtration pressure - 55mm Hg; favours filtration
Bowman’s capsule hydrostatic pressure - 15mm Hg; opposes
Capillary oncotic pressure - 30mm Hg; opposes
Bowman’s capsule oncotic pressure - 0mm Hg; favours
What is the glomerular filtration pressure?
Pressure that is constant along entire capillary; caused by the afferent arteriole being larger than efferent - back pressure
What causes the bowman’s capsule hydrostatic pressure?
Build up of fluid in the bowman’s capsule - opposes filtration
What is causing capillary oncotic pressure?
Think “plasma proteins” everytime you hear oncotic. Plasma protein concentration gradient causes a fluid shift to compensate.
What causes the bowman’s capsule oncotic pressure?
lack of plasma proteins - no pressure, water is drawn in
How is net filtration pressure calculated?
Calculate it using the typical values
Forces favouring filtration - forces opposing filtration
= (glomerular filtration pressure + Bowmans oncotic pressure) - (bowman’s hydrostatic + Capillary oncotic pressures)
= (55 + 0) - (30 +15) = 55 - 45 = 10mm Hg
Define GFR
The rate at which protein free plasma is filtered from the glomeruli in to the bowman’s capsule per unit time.
GFR = __________
Net filtration pressure x the filtration co-efficient (KF)
How is GFR regulated?
Extrinsically - sympathetic control through baroreceptor reflex
Autoregulation - via myogenic or tubuloglomerular feedback mechanisms
If arterial BP increases, blood flow to the glomerulus ______ and so GFR will ______
If arterial BP increases, blood flow to the glomerulus will increase and glomerular filtration rate will increase
If the afferent arteriole constricts then blood flow to the glomerulus will _____ and GFR will _____
If the afferent arteriole constricts then blood flow to the glomerulus will decrease and GFR will decrease
Urine volume is a direct marker of GFR - true/false
True
If mean arterial blood pressure falls, the baroreceptors cause a (constriction/dilation) of the afferent arterioles. this cause glomerular capillary blood pressure to (rise/fall) and therefore GFR to (rise/fall)
If mean arterial blood pressure falls, the baroreceptors cause a constriction of the afferent arterioles. this cause glomerular capillary blood pressure to fall and therefore GFR to fall.
Autoregulation relies on what two methods to control GFR?
Myogenic and tubuloglomerular
Describe the myogenic response and how it controls the GFR
Vascular smooth muscle is stretched, it will constrict to oppose the change and so there will be a reduced blood supply to the glomerulus leading to reduced filtrations
What is the mechanism of the tubuloglomerular feedback in controlling GFR?
It involves the juxtaglomerular apparatus but exact mechanism is unknown. If GFR rises, more NaCl is flowing through the tube. this is sensed by the macula densa and the juxtaglomerular apparatus secretes a vasoconstrictor mediator to reduce GFR again.
if hydrostatic pressure in the bowman’s capsule increases GFR _______
If oncotic pressure in the capillary increases, GFR ________
If oncotic pressure in the capillary decreases, GFR ________
if KF decreases, GFR __________
if hydrostatic pressure in the bowman’s capsule increases GFR decreases
If oncotic pressure in the capillary increases, GFR decreases
If oncotic pressure in the capillary decreases, GFR increases
if KF decreases, GFR decreases
What is plasma clearance?
A measure of how effectively kidneys can “clean” the body of a substance, measured in volume of plasma completely cleared per minute
What is inulin?
An exogenous compound, freely filtered at the glomerulus and neither absorbed or secreted. it is non-toxic, not metabolised and easy to measure in both blood and urine
Inulin clearance gives a reliable estimate of GFR - true/false
False - inulin clearance gives an exact measure of GFR.
Clearance of which substance is used to give an estimate of GFR?
Creatinine
an example of a substance that is filtered, completely reabsorbed and never secreted. Its clearance should be 0/min.
Glucose
This is filtered, partially reabsorbed and not secreted. Its clearance should be < GFR
Urea
Filtered, secreted and not reabsorbed. Clearance should be > GFR
H+ ions
Give the Equation for clearance
Clearance = ([X]urine x Vu)/[X]plasma
Inulin clearance is typically around what value?
125ml/min
State whether there is secretion, reabsorption or neither, If clearance of a substance is:
- > GFR
- = GFR
- < GFR
Clearance > GFR = Secretion
Clearance = GFR = neither excretion nor secretion
Clearance < GFR = reabsorption
Given the following values for sodium, decide if it is excreted, reabsorbed or neither.
- [Na]plasma = 140mmol/L
- [Na]urine = 70mmol/L
- VU = 1ml/L
- Inulin clearance = 125ml/min
[Na]urine x Vu = 70x10-3 = 0.07 x 1 = 0.07
70/[Na]plasma = 0.07/140x10-3 = 0.5ml/min
inulin rate = 125ml/min.
therefore sodium clearance < inulin clearance
therefore this is reabsorbed.
What is PAH? What is it used for?
it is an exogenous organic ion which is non-toxic, not reabsorbed, completely cleared by plasma as any that is not filtered is secreted into the filtrate
It is used to measure renal plasma flow.
What is the excretion rate for PAH?
What is this equal to?
650ml/min
Equal to Renal plasma flow
What is the filtration fraction? How is calculated?
It is the fraction of plasma which flows through the glomeruli which is filtered into the tubules.
Calculated as the GFR/renal plasma flow.
Using the typical values for GFR and Renal plasma flow, calculate the filtration fraction.
GFR = 125ml/min
RPF = 650ml/min
Filtration fraction = GFR/RPF
= 125/650 = 0.19 = 19%.
Where is the majority of reabsorption in the nephron occuring?
The proximal tubule
Reabsorption is necessary because the kidneys would otherwise filter all of our blood volume out in an hour otherwise - true/false
True
The kidneys filter approximately 200L of plasma per day - true/false
False - approximately 180L/day
The kidneys filter our blood approximately __X per day
65x per day.
What percentage of the following substances is reabsorbed by the kidneys?
- Fluid
- Salt
- Glucose
- Amino acids
- Urea
- Creatine
- Fluid = 99%
- Salt = 99%
- Glucose= 100%
- Amino acids = 100%
- Urea = 50%
- Creatine = 0%
Filtration and reabsorption are both passive processes - true/false
False - filtration is passive, reabsorption is active
Water and salt are reabsorbed in equal proportions in the proximal tubule and this is why we have no change in osmolarity in the proximal tubule - true/false
True.