Physiology Flashcards
Define osmolarity
Concentration of osmotically active particles present in a solution
What is the osmolarity of most body fluids?
300mosmol/l
Define tonicity
Effect a solution has on cell volume
What is the effect of a hypotonic solution?
Causes a cell to swell and increases cell volume
What is the effect of a hypertonic solution?
Causes a cell to shrink and decreases cell volume
What percentage of the body weight is total body water?
50-60%
What are the two components of total body water?
Intracellular and extracellular
What makes up the extracellular fluid?
Plasma
Interstitial Fluid
What separates the intra/extracellular fluid?
Cell membrane
How can the distribution volume be calculated?
By use of a tracer - titrated water, inulin, labelled albumin
Describe the ionic differences between ICF and ECF
ICF - high potassium
ECF - high sodium, chloride, bicarbonate, magnesium, negative proteins
Define fluid shifts
Movement of water between ICF and ECF in response to an osmotic gradient
What is the effect of water loss from ECF?
Increase in ECF osmotic concentration water will move out of the ICF and into the ECF so cells will shrink
What is the effect of water gain to the ECF?
Decrease in ECF osmotic concentration water will move out of the ECF into the ICF so cells will swell
Describe the effect of gain/loss of NaCl
Sodium excluded from ICF, if ECF gains salt osmolarity will increase so water will leave ICF to ECF
Loss of salt will increase ICF volume as ECF osmolarity will decrease
Other than salt/water changes what else can cause a fluid shift?
Change in volume - gain/loss of isotonic fluid, only change in ECF volume
Define an electrolyte
Any substance that dissociates into free ions when dissolved
Name two key ions that contribute to osmotic concentrations
Sodium - ECF
Potassium - ICF
What detrimental changes can occur due to changes in potassium?
Muscle weakness and paralysis
Cardiac irregularities and arrest
What is the recommended salt allowance?
6g/day
Name the function of the kidneys
- water balance
- salt balance
- maintain plasma volume
- maintain plasma osmolarity
- acid base balance
- excretion of metabolic waste
- excretion of exogenous compounds
- secretion of renin
- secretion of erythropoietin
- conversion of vit D to its active form
What percentage of blood is filtered by the glomerulus?
20%
Name the three components of the glomerular filter
- glomerular capillary endothelium
- basement membrane
- slit processes of podocytes
Name the four forces that result in glomerular filtration
Glomerular capillary BP 55mmHg towards tubule
Capillary oncotic pressure 30mmHg towards capillary
Bowman’s capsule hydrostatic pressure 15mg towards capillary
Bowman’s capsule oncotic pressure towards tubule 0mmHg
What is the net filtration pressure?
10mmHg
Define GFR
Rate at which protein free plasma is filtered from the glomeruli in to Bowmans capsule per unit time
What is the normal GFR?
125ml/min
How is GFR regulated extrinsically?
Changes to vessel shape alter the GFR
Describe the effect of a fall in blood volume
- Decreased blood pressure
- Detected by baroreceptors
- Increase in sympathetic activity
- Vasoconstriction
- Decreased GFR
- Decreased urine volume (compensates for reduced blood volume)
What is the effect of auto regulation on GFR?
Prevents short term changes in systemic arterial pressure affecting GFR
Describe myogenic auto regulation
If vascular smooth muscle is stretched it contracts, constricting the arteriole
Describe tubuloglomerular auto regulation
Involves juxtaglomerular apparatus
If GFR rises more salt will through flow the tubule leading to constriction of afferent arterioles
What senses NaCl content in the tubular fluid?
Macula densa
Name three pathologies that can alter GFR
Kidney stones, increases bowmans fluid pressure, decreases GFR
Diarrhoea increases bowman oncotic pressure, decreases GFR
Severe burns decrease bowmans oncotic pressure and increases GFR
Define plasma clearance
Measure of how effectively the kidneys can clean the blood of a substance
Describe the clearance/GFR of inulin
Clearance = GFR as it is freely filtered and not reabsorbed or secreted
Describe the clearance/GFR of glucose
Filtered, completely reabsorbed and not secreted
Clearance = 0
Describe the clearance/GFR of urea
Filtered and partly reabsorbed but not secreted so clearance
Describe H+ clearance/GFR
Filtered and secreted but not absorbed
Clearance > GFR
All filtered plasma is cleared and some peritubular plasma too
State three things a clearance marker should be
Non-toxic
Inert
Easy to measure
Name some substances that are reabsorbed
- sugars
- amino acids
- phosphate
- sulphate
- lactate
Name some substances that are secreted
- hydrogen ions
- hippurates
- neurotransmitters
- bile pigments
- uric acid
- drugs and toxins
Name two methods of reabsorption
Transcellular
Paracellular
State three methods of transport of a substance
Primary active
Secondary active
Facilitated diffusion
Describe primary active transport
Energy directly required to move the substance against the gradient
Describe secondary active transport
Molecule is transported, coupled to the concentration of an ion