Physiology 9 Flashcards
What purpose does the loop of Henle serve?
To increase the osmolality of the medullary interstitium by extruding ions, presenting a hypotonic tubular fluid to the distal tubule
Where does ion extrusion take place in the loop of Henle?
The thick ascending limb
What are the principle transporters responsible for ion extrusion in the thick ascending loop of Henle?
Basal Na/K ATPase drives the gradient. Secondary active transport of Na+/K+/2CL- across the apical membrane then occurs
What is the maximum medullary tonicity reached due to the action of the loops of Henle?
1400 mOsmol/kg H2O
What is the osmolality of the fluid leaving the loop of Henle?
Approx 90 mOsmol/kg H2O
How is the renal medullary hypertonicity maintained by the collecting duct system?
66% of the fluid delivered to the cortical collecting tubule is absorbed before reaching the medullary CT, delivering less than 5% of filtrate volume and increasing tubular fluid osmolality from 90 to 290 mOsmol/kg H2O.
How does urea concentration of renal tubular fluid change along the length of the nephron?
50% of filtered urea is reabsorbed in the proximal tubule
Urea diffuses into the tubular fluid in the descending loop of Henle down a concentration gradient.
The distal tubule and cortical collecting ducts are impermeable to urea, but water is reabsorbed, increasing urea concentration.
The medullary collecting ducts are permeable to urea, allowing diffusion into the interstitium down a conc. gradient.
How does ADH affect urea transport in the nephron?
ADH, in addition to promoting AQP2 also activates a urea uniporter in the apical and basolateral membranes of the collecting duct cells, facilitating diffusion and maximising interstitial osmolality.
How are the vasa recta affected by countercurrent exchange?
Water is removed and then replaced in the descending and ascending limbs respectively, minimising solute loss.
O2 and CO2 are exchanged between the ascending and descending limbs, making delivery/removal inefficient.
Outline the contribution to concentration of urine that each part of the nephron makes
70% of water is reabsorbed in the proximal tubule
15% is reabsorbed in the loop of Henle
10-15% is reabsorbed by the distal tubules and collecting ducts. This is ADH-dependent.
Outline the synthesis, storage and release of ADH
Synthesised in supraoptic nuclei of hypothalamus and transported to posterior pituitary in nerve fibres for storage.
Osmoreceptors in the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei regulate release
What plasma level of ADH is associated with a normal osmolality?
4 pg/ml
Outline the function of ADH receptors
ADHR (V2R): G-protein coupled receptors in basal membranes of collecting duct cells. Activation causes increased aquaporin 2 activity at apical membrane
How much urine is produced in 24h in the absence of ADH?
23L per day
What is a normal daily urine volume and osmolality?
1.5L/24h
300-800 mOsmol/kg H2O
Describe the juxtaglomerular apparatus
Early distal tubule comes into close contact with efferent and afferent arterioles. Renin-containing cells in the afferent arterioles and the macula densa of the distal tubule are involved in the RAAS.
What mechanisms lead to renin release?
- Increased sympathetic tone
- Decreased wall tension in the afferent arteriole
- Macula densa stimulates renin release in response to decreased NaCl delivery [poorly understood]
List the actions of angiotensin II
- Stimulates ADH release
- Stimulates aldosterone release
- Increases proximal and distal tubular sodium reabsorption
- Stimulates peripheral vasoconstriction
- Inhibits renin release (-ve feedback)
Where is aldosterone produced?
Adrenal cortex
How important is aldosterone to regulation of ECF volume?
It has a regulatory role, but if release is impaired, other mechanisms can compensate for it.