Renal Flashcards
What is the name for the anatomical structure in the kidney where the blood vessels/ureter exit?
Hilus
List the 5 main anatomical structures of the kidney from the outside in.
Renal cortex
Renal medulla
Renal pyramid
Renal calyx
Renal pelvis
In which anatomical structures are the nephrons primarily found?
Renal pyramid
List the components of the renal tubule starting from the glomerulus
Bowman’s capsule
Proximal tubule
Loop of Henle (descending then ascending limbs)
Distal tubule
Connecting tubule
Collecting duct
Approximately what % of left cardiac output goes to the renal artery?
22
What are the two capillary networks associated with a single nephron?
Glomerulus and peritubular capillaries
What is the primary role of the glomerulus?
Filtration
What is the primary role of the peritubular capillaries?
Reabsorption
Name the two different types of nephrons.
Cortical nephron
Juxtamedullary nephron
Which nephron type is the most common?
Cortical nephrons
What are the distinguishing characteristics of a cortical nephron?
Relatively short loop of Henle which does not descend far into the medulla, and an extensive network of peritubular capillaries
What are the distinguishing characteristics of a juxtaglomerular nephron?
Long loops of Henle which descend deep into the medulla, and peritubular capillaries which run parallel to the loop of Henle
What is the vasa recta and with what structure in the kidney is it associated?
Peritubular capillary network running parallel to the loop of Henle in juxtaglomerular nephrons
What are the three main processes involved in production of urine?
Filtration, reabsorption, and secretion
How is the urinary excretion rate calculated? Which factors contribute the most to this rate?
Excretion = filtration - reabsorption + secretion
Filtration and reabsorption contribute the most
What types of substances will only be filtered by the kidney (not secreted or reabsorbed)?
Waste products
What types of substances will be filtered and partially reabsorbed by the kidney?
Electrolytes
What types of substances will be filtered and completely reabsorbed by the kidney?
Nutritional substances (e.g. glucose and amino acids)
What types of substances will be filtered AND secreted by the kidney?
Substances which require rapid clearance (e.g. organic acids)
What is the name for the fluid found in Bowman’s capsule?
Glomerular filtrate
What is the approximate % of plasma which is filtered by the glomerulus and what is the term for this fraction?
20% - filtration fraction
What are the two main factors which determine the filtration fraction/GFR?
Glomerular capillary filtration coefficient (Kf), and filtration forces
What are the three layers which act as a barrier between the blood and glomerular filtrate?
Endothelium of glomerular capillaries, basement membrane of capillaries, epithelial cells of Bowman’s capsule
What is the name given to epithelial cells of Bowman’s capsule?
Podocytes
What characteristic of glomerular capillary endothelium allows for filtration?
Fenestrae
What characteristic of glomerular capillary basement membrane allows for filtration?
Permeability due to proteoglycans
What characteristic of Bowman’s capsule epithelium allows for filtration?
Slit pores between projections of podocytes
What characteristic, other than particle size, restricts filtration of molecules?
Charge - filter components are slightly negatively charged, so neutral/positive particles filter more effectively
Why do plasma proteins (e.g. albumin) typically not enter the glomerular filtrate?
Size (too large to pass easily) and charge (generally negatively charged)
What are the four forces which contribute to filtration force in the glomerulus?
Glomerular hydrostatic pressure (PG)
Bowman’s capsule hydrostatic pressure (PB)
Glomerular osmotic pressure (PiG)
Bowman’s capsule osmotic pressure (PiB)
Which of the four factors contributing to filtration force in the glomerulus is typically considered to be zero?
Bowman’s capsule hydrostatic pressure
What does “high osmotic pressure” refer to?
High solute concentration
How is the filtration coefficient (Kf) determined?
Estimated - Filtration force is assumed to be approx. 10, so Kf = GFR/10
When Kf/GFR is calculated, does it represent one kidney or both?
Both
Under what circumstances is Kf modified?
Pathological conditions only (hypertension, diabetes can reduce Kf)
Under what circumstances is Bowman’s capsule hydrostatic pressure modified?
Pathological conditions only (e.g. ureter blockage)
Under what circumstances is glomerular osmotic pressure modified?
Changes in plasma protein levels, or changes in filter fraction (higher FF = higher osmotic pressure)
What is the primary factor which the body utilizes to modify GFR?
Hydrostatic pressure in glomerular capillaries
What changes in the body contribute to changes in glomerular hydrostatic pressure?
Arterial pressure (MAP), afferent arteriolar resistance, efferent arteriolar resistance
What is the main reason kidneys have such a high rate of oxygen consumption (double that of the brain)?
Active reabsorption of sodium
How is the renal pressure gradient estimated and which of the three factors is modified to regulate filtration?
(P(RA) - P(RV)) / (Renal vascular resistance)
Renal vascular resistance is modified
What are the three components which contribute to renal vascular resistance?
Interlobular arteries
Afferent arterioles
Efferent arterioles
What is the estimated pressure of the renal artery and renal vein?
RA = 100mmHg
RV = 3-4mmHg
What are the two broad categories of factors which affect renal vascular resistance?
Sympathetic nervous system activity, and hormones/autacoids
Under what conditions will sympathetic NS activation significantly impact renal vascular resistance?
Major activation of SNS where blood volume must be restored (e.g. hemorrhage, brain ischemia, etc.)
How do epinephrine/norepinephrine alter GFR?
Constriction of afferent AND efferent arterioles, thereby reducing blood flow/GFR
What hormone is produced by damaged endothelial cells?
Endothelin
How does endothelin modify the GFR?
Reduces blood flow (and thereby blood loss) when the endothelium is damaged. Reduces GFR in cases of toxemia, acute renal failure, chronic uremia
Under what circumstance is angiotensin II released and what is its primary function?
Blood volume depletion; acts to facilitate filtration of waste products while still retaining fluid
What is the effect of angiotensin II on the nephron/GFR?
Constricts efferent arteriole - increases GFR while maximizing reabsorption by peritubular capillaries due to lower pressure
How does nitric oxide alter GFR?
Vasodilator - increases GFR. Should be constitutively expressed
What are the important autacoids in the nephron?
Prostaglandins, PGI2, PGE2, bradykinin
How do autacoids alter GFR?
Reduce vasoconstriction effect of angiotensin II on the afferent arterioles, allowing for local constriction of efferent arterioles only
What are the two main effector cell types involved in the juxtaglomerular feedback mechanism?
Macula densa cells on the distal tubule, and granular (juxtaglomerular) cells on the afferent arteriole
How does a reduction in GFR change the NaCl concentration of filtrate in the distal tubule?
Decreased concentration - lower flow rate means greater time for absorption
How do macula densa cells respond to decreased NaCl concentration in the distal tubule?
Reduce afferent arteriole resistance to increase GFR
Increase renin release by juxtaglomerular cells (to cause angiotensin-mediated efferent arteriole constriction)
Explain the myogenic mechanism for autoregulation of GFR.
Stretch due to increased BP causes release of calcium into smooth muscle cells, causing contraction and reducing blood flow
What is the simplest formula to calculate urine excretion of a substance?
Glomerular filtration - tubular reabsorption + tubular secretion
What is the primary active transporter in the tubular epithelium?
Sodium-potassium ATPase
Where are sodium-potassium ATPase pumps typically located?
Basolateral membrane of the tubular epithelial cells
By what mechanism is sodium typically reabsorbed?
Active transport - ATPase at the basolateral membrane creates a concentration/charge difference which pulls sodium into the epithelial cell, and pushes sodium into the capillary
How are molecules like glucose and amino acids typically reabsorbed?
Via cotransport with sodium (secondary active transport; e.g. SGLT2) at the apical membrane, then passively via transporters (e.g. GLUT2/1) at the basolateral membrane
By what mechanism are hydrogen ions typically secreted?
Sodium-hydrogen exchanger (NHE) - secondary active secretion
By what mechanism are proteins typically reabsorbed?
Pinocytosis; digestion into AA then diffusion into the blood
What is meant by the “transport maximum” of a substance?
The absolute maximum rate at which a substance can be reabsorbed; associated with saturation of all transport proteins
What is meant by the “threshold level” of a substance?
The value below the transport maximum at which some nephrons have reached maximum reabsorption, but not all. It is the level at which a substance appears in the urine
How is water reabsorption typically accomplished?
Passively; either transcellular or paracellular
What is “solvent drag”?
Reabsorption of solutes along with water transfer
What are the two main mechanisms for chloride reabsorption?
Charge gradient between the lumen and extracellular space created by sodium
Water reabsorption (following sodium) creates a concentration gradient
Is urea reabsorbed?
Yes, some of it is (about 50%) as cells have a low level of permeability
What is renal clearance?
The volume of plasma per unit time (ml/min) that is completely cleared of a substance
How is excretion rate calculated?
urine concentration x urine flow rate
How is clearance rate calculated?
(urine concentration x urine flow rate) / (plasma concentration)
What makes a substance have a clearance rate equal to GFR?
Freely filtered, not reabsorbed or secreted
What are substances that can be used to determine GFR via calculating clearance rate?
Inulin and creatinine
What are characteristics of a substance with a clearance rate of 0?
Freely filtered and completely reabsorbed (or not filtered at all) - e.g. glucose
What are characteristics of a substance with a clearance rate greater than GFR? Example?
Freely filtered AND secreted (and not reabsorbed) - e.g. PAH
What is pressure natriuresis?
Increase in sodium excretion due to increased arterial pressure
What is pressure diuresis?
Increase in water excretion due to increased arterial pressure
What are three consequences of impaired GFR autoregulation due to kidney disease?
Increase in GFR/UOP
Reduced reabsorption of sodium/water due to increased interstitial pressure
Reduced angiotensin II formation