Rao Objectives- RBF and GFR Flashcards
How many nephrons are in a kidney and what is their breakdown?
There are about 1 million per kidney.
15% are juxtamedullary nephrons.
85% are superficial nephrons.
What does a nephron consist of?
A glomerulus, proximal tubule, loop of hence, distal tubule and collecting duct.
What does the renal vasculature consist of?
Renal, interlobar, arcuate, and radial arteries and veins, and afferent and efferent arterioles.
What differentiates the renal vasculature from that of other organs?
The kidney has two capillary beds: the glomerular and the peritubular capillary beds.
How does renal vascular hydrostatic pressure change?
It drops in two steps from the arterial system to the venous system- once in the afferent arteriole and once in the efferent arteriole. This allows maintenance of high hydrostatic pressure in the glomerular capillary.
Are the afferent and efferent arterioles high or low resistance vessels?
HIGH
Does renal vascular oncotic pressure increase or decrease from afferent arteriole to efferent arteriole?
INCREASE
Describe the composition of glomerular filtrate:
It is the ultra filtrate of blood free of blood cells and large proteins.
It also has 4-5% more anions due to the Gibbs-Donnon Effect.
What is the GFR and what is it an indicator of?
It is the rate at which plasma is filtered through the glomerulus.
It is an indicator of renal function.
What is the filtrate fraction?
It is a ratio of GFR to renal plasma flow.
FF= GFR/RPF
**affected by things that reduce GFR (urethral obstruction)
**affected by things that reduce RPF (renal artery stenosis)
What are the three filtration barriers?
- Capillary Endothelium
- Basement Membrane
- Glomerular Epithelium (podocyte monolayer)
What is the function of the capillary endothelium?
It forms a barrier to blood cells and large proteins.
What is the function of the basement membrane?
It is a meshwork of connective tissues that forms a diffusion barrier for many molecules.
What is the function of the glomerular epithelium?
It prevents diffusion of large molecules.
Is the glomerular barrier size selective or charge selective?
SIZE
Is the filtration barrier size or charge selective?
CHARGE
What are the determinants of GFR?
- Filtration Coefficient
- Hydraulic Conductivity
- It is directly proportional to surface area of the glomerular capillary.
What promotes glomerular filtration?
- Glomerular Hydrostatic Pressure
2. Bowman’s Space Oncotic Pressure
What opposes glomerular filtration?
- Glomerular Oncotic Pressure
2. Bowman;s Space Hydrostatic Pressure
What are the three factors that affect net filtration pressure?
- Changes in capillary hydrostatic pressure
- Changes in Bowman’s space hydrostatic pressure
- Changes in capillary oncotic pressure