Renal - function, anatomy and blood flow Flashcards
Classify and summarise the function of the kidney
BLOOD COMPOSITION HOMEOSTASIS
- Volume and osmolarity
- Electrolyte balance
- Acid-base
- Removal of waste and drugs
- Gluconeogenesis
ENDOCRINE
- EPO
- VIT D
- Renin
What kind of endothelium do the capillaries within the glomerulus have and why
Fenestrated endothelium to allow free filtration of fluid, solutes and small proteins. Albumin and blood cells are too large to be filtered.
What makes up the basement membrane of the glomerulus
- Type 4 collagen
- Laminins
- Heparan sulphate
What are podocytes
Podocytes are negatively charged foot like processes that control the passage of certain substances into the bowman’s capsule
Where are mesangial cells found and what is their function
In the glomerulus between the capillary loops
FUNCTION (Cells of smooth muscle origin) 1. Contractile function —> role in regulation of filtration 2. Structural support 3. Phagocytosis
How is glomerular filtration pressure modified
By varying the relative resistance of the afferent and efferent arteriole of the glomerulus
What are the vasa recta?
Additional set of arterioles that arise from the efferent arteriole. Their role is to supply blood to the renal medulla.
Special feature: The vasa recta descend with the ascending loop of Henle and ascend with the descending loop of Henle creating a counter-current arrangement,
The counter-current arrangement is required to generate the high solute concentration gradients of the renal medulla
Why is the blood supply to the renal medulla relatively poor compared to the renal cortex
This is required to prevent washout of solutes from the medullary interstitium, which are required for water reabsorption
What are the components of the juxtaglomerular apparatus. What is the basic function of each component
The DCT folds back to lie anatomically very close to its corresponding glomerulus. Its components include:
- Granular cells –> located in wall of afferent arteriole –> secrete renin
- Macula densa cells –> located at junction of DCT and thick ascending LOH –> sense tubular Na+ and CL- concentration
- Extra-glomerular mesangial cells
The juxtaglomerular apparatus regulates RBF and the GFR.
Describe renal blood flow in terms of % of CO and the relative flow to the cortex and the medulla
Kidneys make up 1% of body mass
Kidneys receive 20% cardiac output
Renal cortex: 500ml / 100g tissue per minute
Outer renal medulla: 100 ml / 100g tissue per minute
Inner renal medulla: 20 ml / 100g tissue per minute
What happens if RBF is too high
End organ damage due to high pressure
Reduced time for reabsorption processes to occur –> pressure diuresis
What happens when RBF is too low
Ischaemia, especially to:
- Poorly vascularised medulla
- Metabolically active PCTs
- Toxic metabolite build up
How is RBF maintained
Renal Autoregulation: RBF is kept constant over a range of ‘normal perfusion pressures: MAP 75 –> 165 mmHg
What are the mechanisms of autoregulation
MYOGENIC
Increased afferent arteriole pressure –> increased afferent arteriole stretch –> mechanically gated non-specific cation channels open –> depolarization of arteriolar membrane –> smooth muscle contraction –> reduced vessel diameter –> increased resistance but constant flow.
TUBULOGLOMERULAR FEEDBACK
Increased RBF –> increased GFR –> increased filtration Na and Cl –> sensed by macula densa Na+/K+/2Cl- cotransporter –> Increased movement of Na, Cl- and H2O into macula densa cells –> swelling in proportion to GFR –> Adenosine based second messenger released in proportion to the swelling –> Adenosine 1 receptors JGA –>
- Afferent arteriole vasoconstriction
- Glomerular mesangial cell contraction (reduces surface area for filtration –> reduces GFR)
- Granular cells inhibited from secreting renin.
Summarise the tubuloglomerular feedback and myogenic mechanisms of autoregulation
Myogenic
afferent arteriolar stretch –> smooth muscle contraction –> afferent arteriolar vasoconstriction
Tubuloglomerular feedback
Increased RBF –> increased NaCl delivery to macula densa –> adenosine-based second messenger released –>
- Afferent arteriolar vasoconstriction
- Glomerular mesangial cell contraction (reduced surface area for filtration)
- Granular cell inhibition and renin release inhibited
The opposite occurs if RBF decreases.