Renal - Loop of Henle Flashcards
What are the three functionally distinct subsegments of the renal loop?
Thin Descending Limb
Thin Ascending Limb
Thick Ascending Limb
What is the functionality of the thin descending limb?
No NaCl transport
Water permeable
What is the functionality of the thin ascending limb?
Passive Na+ reabsorption
Not water permeable
What is the functionality of the thick ascending limb?
Active Na, Cl, and K+ transport
Not water permeable
What are the functions of the loops of henle?
Reabsorbtion
create a medullary interstitial solute concentration gradient
essential for concentrating urine and conserving body water
How does the Na+-K+-2Cl- cotransporter work?
Na+ is cotransported with 2Cl- ions and 1 K+ ion by NKCC2
Some K+ returns to the lumen through K+ ROMK Channels
K+ leak required to replenish luminal K+ so NKCC2 continue to function
Na+ leaves via Na+-K+ pumps
Cl- exits primarily through Cl- channels
What favors paracellular solute transport?
Positve lumen favors paracellular reabsorption of cations
half of TAL Na+ reabsorption is paracellular
Mg, Ca, K, reabsorbed
How is Na+ and Cl- reabsorbed in the TAL?
Na-K-2Cl cotransporter
Paracellular solute transport
How is urea passively recycled between the CD and LoH?
Collecting duct urea transport is oneway out
some renters the descending and ascending limb (one-way in)
some enters vasa recta and returns to systemic circulation
Define:
Countercurrent
flow of fluid in opposite directions in adjacent structures
Define
Countercurrent exchange
crossover of some property between two fluids flowing in opposite directions
Define
Countercurrent multiplication
The result of solute transport occuring in only the outgoing part of a column constantly flowing fluid
Solute transported out in AL continue adding fluid creates an even greater concentration (amplifies) gradient
What are the two steps of countercurrent multiplication?
The single effect
Fluid Flow
Define
Single Effect step of Countercurrent Multiplication
Active transport of NaCl out of tubular fluid in the TAL
What is the result of the single effect step of countercurrent multiplication?
Hyperosmotic interstitial fluid -> water moves passively down its concentration gradient out of the tubular fluid in the descending limb into the interstitial space, until it reaches equilibrium
Define
Fluid flow step of Countercurrent Multiplication
As urine is continually being produced, new tubular fluid enters the descending limb
What is the result of the fluid flow step of Countercurrent Multiplication?
Fluid is pushed down the tube at a higher osmolarity and an osmotic gradient begins to develop
What are the characteristics of the single effect of Countercurrent Multiplication?
What is it permeable to? How/where does it move ions?
Na+-K+-2Cl- transporter moves Na+ and Cl- into the medullary interstitium -> affects concentration of tubular fluid and interstitium
TAL of the LOH lacks aquaporins
Descending limb is H2O permeable
Single Effect step of Countercurrent Multiplication
How does the Na+-K+-2Cl- transporter affect the tubular fluid and interstitium?
Tubular fluid is hypoosmolar (dilute)
Interstitium has hyperosmolar fluid (more concentrated)
Hyperosmolar fluid is found in the descending limb
Fluid Flow step of Countercurrent Multiplication
The movement of fluid through the tubules causes…
How does it effect the fluid in the overall loop
the hyperosmotic fluid to move further down the loop
pump - equilibriate - shift
Fluid Flow step of Countercurrent Multiplication
What is the difference between fluid at the top of the LoH vs at the bottom of the loop?
At the top of LoH fluid is nearly isomolar
At the bottom of the LoH fluis is very concentrated