Production of Urine Flashcards
What is renal autoregulation of GFR?
The ability of the kidneys to maintain a constant renal blood flow and GFR.
What two mechanisms control renal autoregulation?
Myogenic mechanism
Tubuloglomerular mechanism
What does the myogenic mechanism respond to?
Changes in blood pressure.
Explain how the myogenic mechanism responds to changes in blood pressure.
- As blood pressure increases, renal blood flow and GFR also increase.
- In response smooth muscle in the wall of the afferent arteriole constrict, decreasing renal blood flow and returning GFR to normal.
Decreased bp = smooth muscle relaxes increasing renal blood flow and GFR.
What do baroreceptors do?
Detect changes in blood pressure.
Vasoconstriction of the afferent arteriole of the glomerulus leads to what?
Decreased urine output
Decreased GFR
Increased blood volume and thus pressure
What are the main cells that control tubuloglomerular feedback?
Macula densa cells
Explain the role of macula densa cells in tubuloglomerular feedback.
Macula densa cells detect increased delivery of Na+ and H2O to the DCT. Macula densa cells send a signal causing the afferent arteriole of the glomerulus to constrict, decreasing GFR and increasing the amount of sodium and water retained by the kidneys.
How do macula densa cells cause constriction of the afferent arteriole?
Macula densa cells inhibit the release of NO from the JGA. NO causes vasodilation, so it’s inhibition causes the afferent arteriole to constrict.
What is the renal corpuscle?
The combination of the bowman’s capsule and the glomerulus, produces the filtrate.
Where is the majority of water and Na+ reabsrobed?
The proximal convoluted tubule.
What is reabsorbed in the PCT?
Na+ and water
What is reabsorbed in the descending loop of henle?
Water only
What is the THIN ascending limb of the loop of henle permeable to?
Only Na+ and Cl-
What is the THICK ascending limb permeable to?
K+
What occurs in the DCT?
Secretion of ions, acids, drugs and toxins for excretion occurs here.
What does the juxtamedullary nephron allow compared to cortical nephrons?
Much greater reabsorption of water
What forms the inner wall of the glomerulus?
A visceral layer made of podocytes.
What are the three layers of the filtration membrane?
Glomerular endothelial layer
Basement membrane
Podocytes with filtration slits
Explain the role of glomerular endothelial layer in the filtration membrane.
The endothelial layer has large fenestrations that allows all solutes to exit the glomerular capillaries, but prevents the filtration of blood cells.
Explain the role of the basement membrane in the filtration membrane.
Allows the passage of water and small solutes to enter the filtrate.
What do the glycoproteins on the basement membrane prevent the exit of and how?
The negative charges on the glycoproteins prevent the passage of plasma proteins.
What is the basement membrane made of?
Small collagen fibres and glycoproteins
Explain the role of podocytes in the filtration membrane.
Podocytes have filtration slits between pedicels which allows only the filtration of small molecules.
What are pedicels of podocytes?
Small foot like projections.
What do mesangial cells control in the glomerulus?
How much surface area is available for filtration affecting rate of GFR.
What do relaxed mesangial cells in the glomerulus equate to?
High surface area and thus high GFR.
Explain regarding daltons what molecules are able to pass into the filtrate.
Small proteins less than 30,000 daltons are able to pass into the filtrate.
More than 30,000 daltons cannot.
What are daltons are measurement of?
The atomic mass of proteins.
What is the net filtration pressure?
The total pressure that promotes filtration.
What is the equation for NFP?
NFP = GBHP - CHP - BCOP
GBHP - glomerular blood hydrostatic pressure
CHP - capsular hydrostatic pressure
BCOP - Blood colloid osmotic pressure
What is glomerular blood hydrostatic pressure?
The blood pressure in hydrostatic capillaries that forces water and solutes through the filtration membrane.
What is capsular hydrostatic pressure?
The hydrostatic pressure extered against the filtration membrane by fluid already in the capsular space and renal tubule.
What is blood colloid osmotic pressure?
The pressure from proteins such as albumin and globulins in blood plasma that oppose filtration.