Renal Flashcards
What is the juxtaglomerular apparatus?
The region where the distal tubule passes in between afferent and efferent arterioles
How do glomerular capillaries differ from those in the rest of the body?
The pore sizes are 100x bigger - makes them very leaky
Where are macula densa cells located and what is their function?
Specialised cells found in the distal tubule at the region of the juxtaglomerular apparatus
Sensitive to salt - able to release vasoactive chemicals which can influence the SM in the wall of the afferent arteriole in order to achieve negative feedback
What is a typical GFR?
125 ml/minute
What are the four capillary pressures acting at the glomerulus?
Favouring filtration
- Glomerular capillary blood pressure (55 mm Hg)
- Bownman’s capsule oncotic pressure (0 mm Hg)
Opposing filtration
- Bowman’s capsule hydrostatic pressure (15 mm Hg)
- Capillary oncotic pressure (30 mm Hg)
How is autoregulation of GFR achieved?
Myogenic
- If vascular SM is stretched, it contracts to constrict the arteriole
Tubuloglomerular
- Involves juxtoglomerular apparatus
- If GFR rises, more NaCl flows through the tubule leading to constriction of afferent arteriole
What are the clearance values for:
- Glucose
- Urea
- H+
Glucose - 0
Urea - GFR
What is the difference between RPF and GFR markers?
A GFR marker should be filtered freely and NOT secreted or reabsorbed
A RPF marker should be filtered AND completely secreted
What is the rate of reabsorption of filtered fluid in the proximal tubule?
80 ml/min
What is the tonicity of fluid reabsorbed in the proximal tubule compared to the filtrate?
Isotonic
What path do H20 and Cl take when following Na reabsorption in the proximal tubule?
Paracellular route
Describe the process of glucose reabsorption in the proximal tubule
Glucose enters the tubular epithelial cell by secondary active transport through the Na+/glucose cotransporter at the apical membrane
This is an example of co-transport)
Glucose exits the tubular cell and enters the interstitial fluid at the basolateral membrane by facilitated diffusion
Where is the triple co-transporter found?
Thick part of the ascending limb in the loop on Henle
What is the tonicity of the tubular fluid on entering the distal tubule?
Tubular fluid entering the distal tubule is hypo-osmotic
What is the purpose of countercurrent multiplication?
To concentrate the medullary interstitial fluid
What happens to blood osmolality as it dips in and out of the medulla
Blood osmolality rises as it dips down into the medulla i.e. water loss, solute gained
Blood osmolality falls as it rises back up into the cortex (i.e. water gained, solute lost)
What makes up the countercurrent system?
The loop of henle with the vasa recta
What preserves the medullary osmotic gradient?
The countercurrent exchanger
What does a high medullary osmolality allow?
Production of hypertonic urine in the presence of ADH
What is meant by a compliant bladder?
Able to keep intravesicular pressure constant with an increase in volume of urine
What is the nervous supply to the bladder in the micturition cycle?
Filling phase is under sympathetic control from hypogastric nerves T10-L2
Voiding phase is under parasympathetic control form pelvic nerves S2-S4
How can you work out detrusor pressure?
Cystomethogram
Bladder pressure - abdominal pressure
List some causes of urge incontinence
Afferent overstimulation - source of irritation within the bladder e.g. stone, tumours
Paraplegia
Pelvic surgery or #
Surgery for urge incontinence?
Enterocystoplasty - cut the bladder in half and insert some small bowel in between
Treatment of stress incontinence?
Not much role for pharmacotherapy
Tape procedure - insert tape across urethra to pull it shut
Which part of the nephron is most important for salt balance?
Distal tubule
What is the main factor controlling Na and water regulation in the distal tubule?
Hormonal
Which parts of the nephron are under hormonal control?
Distal tubule + collecting duct
What can the collecting duct be divided up into?
What is the functional difference between the two?
Early + late
Early collecting duct is similar to late distal tubule
Late collecting duct has
- Low ion permeability
- Permeability to water and urea influenced by ADH
What is the stimulus for ADH and what is its purpose?
Stimulated by increased plasma osmolality
Promotes water reabsorption in the distal tubule and collecting duct
What are the two types of vasopressin receptor?
Type I - activation causes vasoconstriction of arterioles
Type II - causes increased aquaporin expression in renal tubular cells
How does ADH work in renal tubular cells?
Causes aquaporins in vesicles in the cytoplasm to migrate to the cell surface
This increases permeability of the tubular cell to water
When plasma ADH is low the aquaporins become internalized back into the cytoplasm, where they are stored
How does solute excretion change with ADH?
It doesn’t - ADH only works on water
How much of a change in ECF fluid volume do you need to stimulate left atrial volume receptors?
A LOT
Which drug is associated with diabetes insipidus?
Lithium
What is the relation of left atrial stretch receptors on ADH?
Decreased atrial pressure stimulates ADH release
How does stimulation of stretch receptors in the GI tract affect ADH release?
Feedforward inhibition of ADH
What are the two ways in which aldosterone can be stimulated?
- Indirectly - decrease in plasma concentration of Na activates RAAS
- Directly - increase in plasma concentration of K