Renal Flashcards
What are the two theories of auto regulation?
Metabolic (metabolites cause vasodilation)
Myogenic -smooth muscle contracts harder when stretched more.
What is autoregulation?
Vasoconstriction or vasodilation in response to a change in BP to maintain filtration pressure.
What is tubulogloermular feedback?
The contents of the tubule reflect filtration and reabsorption. This is monitored in the distal convoluted tubule and the info is transmitted back to the glomerulus where the GFR can be modified.
What is the macula densa?
Part of the juxtaglomerulus apparatus in the distal tubule which monitors sodium and calcium levels in the tubule.
What does the macula densa do if the GFR is too high?
Promotes afferent vasoconstriction
What is the vasa recta?
Blood supply to the medulla of the kidney
Does the medulla of the kidney have a high or low oxygen consumption?
High
What may be the result of obstruction to the vasa recta?
Ischaemia in the tubule.
What is paradoxical vasoconstriction?
Blood is shifted away from the part if the medulla where there is an obstruction in the vasa recta.
This will increase hypoxia and may lead to acute kidney injury.
What makes up the filtration surface in the glomerulus?
Capillary endothelial cells with fenestrations.
Basement membrane
Podocytes with filtration slits.
What is a podocyte?
A modified epithelial cell with foot processes (pedicels)
What are the gaps between foot processes called?
Filtration slits
What is the passage of filtration in the glomerulus dependent upon?
- Molecular size
2. Charge
What charge does the BM have?
Negative
What is the effect of a negatively charged BM on filtration?
Big repulsion of larger negative molecules (eg albumin)
Less of a repulsion on smaller negative ions (eg Cl-)
What is GFR?
GFR = net filtration pressure x water permeability x area of filter
What is net filtration pressure?
Net filtration pressure = (capillary hydrostatic pressure - tubule hydrostatic pressure) - (plasma oncotic pressure - filtrate oncotic pressure)
What is the result of afferent vasoconstriction in the nephron?
Dec. glomerular blood flow
Dec. glomerular pressure
Dec. GFR
What causes afferent vasoconstriction in the nephron?
SNS
Adenosine
What is the result of afferent vasodilation in the nephron?
Inc. glomerular blood flow
Inc. glomerular pressure
Inc GFR
What may cause afferent vasodilation in the nephron?
NO
Prostaglandins
What is the result of efferent vasoconstriction in the nephrons?
Dec. blood flow out of nephrons
Inc glomerular pressure
Inc GFR
What is the result of efferent vasodilation in the nephrons?
Inc blood flow out of the glomerulus
Dec glomerular pressure
Dec GFR
What are mesangial cells?
Cells in the glomerulus which supports the glomerular filter, can contract to alter SA and is phagocytotic.
What is the filtration coefficient? (Kf)
The membranes permeability to water, dependant upon glomerular permeability and surface area.
How is the surface area in the glomerulus modified?
Contraction of Mesangial cells
What causes contraction of mesangial cells?
Ang2, NA, ADH
What causes relaxation of mesangial cells?
Prostaglandins
What is SNGFR?
The GFR of a single nephron.
What is the relationship between GFR and SNGFR?
GFR is the sum of all of the SNGFRs.
What defines chronic kidney disease?
Permanent loss of nephrons
What is the result of a decreased number of functional nephrons?
Hypertrophy of the remaining tubules and blood vessels, leading to hyperfiltration.
What is hyperfiltration?
When there is hypertrophy of tubules and vasodilation, which temporarily increases the GFR.
What is the problem with hyperfiltration?
It’s benefits are short lived. It causes glomerulosclerosis which causes more damage to the kidneys.
What is renal clearance?
The volume of plasma that is completely cleared of a marker substance per unit of time.
What are some important characteristics of a GFR marker?
Non toxic
Doesn’t affect the GFR
Not absorbed, metabolised or secreted
Easy to measure
What markers are used to study GFR clearance?
Inulin and Creatinine
What equation represents the clearance of a marker?
(Urine[marker] x volume) / (plasma[marker] x time)
When does clearance equal the GFR?
When none of the marker is reabsorbed, secreted or metabolised.
What is Inulin?
A ‘perfect’ GFR marker, however, it is exogenous and time consuming
What is creatinine?
A substance formed at a constant rate in the muscle.
What are plasma creatinine levels dependent upon?
Body muscle mass
Therefore, age and gender impact