Renal Physiology Flashcards
What is the primary function of the kidneys?
Regulate the plasma of blood
ie Regulate our blood volume and pressure (through regulation of ECF (plasma, IF and CSF))
What are five functions of the kidney?
- Regulate our blood volume and pressure
- Maintain [water] and fluid volume
- Maintain acid-base balance
- pH (measure of [H+] in a sol’n)
- Excretion of waste products
- urea, uric acid, creatinine, bilirubin
- foreign chemicals
- Synthesis of new glucose molecules gluconeogenesis
- Secrete renal hormones
- Erythropoietin (EPO) synthesized by fibroblasts in the kidney
- Renin
- 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D
Kidneys regulate fluid volume, which affects _______ and _________
Kidneys regulate fluid volume, which affects blood volume and blood pressure
What is the distribution of water between ICF and ECF?
ECF includes _____, ______ and ______
- 60% of body weight is water
- 40% is intracellular fluid (ICF)
- 20% is Extracellular fluid (ECF)
- ECF includes Plasma, Interstitial Fluid (IF), and Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

Fluid volume changes can occur during various health disorders:
- Changes that occur where plasma volume is affected happen due to:
Fluid volume changes can occur during various health disorders:
- Changes that occur where plasma volume is affected happen due to:
- rapid movement of water from plasma component by the process of osmosis
Kidney’s regulate the ______ which includes: (3)
Kidney’s regulate the Extracellular fluid which includes: (3)
- Plasma
- Interstitial fluid
- cerebrospinal fluid
Sodium and Chloride have a higher concentration in which fluid compartment (ICF or ECF)?
Sodium and Chloride have a higher concentration in Extracellular fluid
(Na+ is pumped out and Cl- follows)
Sodium
Out
Potassium
In
Positive
Out
Negative
In
Potassium has a higher concentration in which fluid compartment?
Potassium has a higher concentration in Intracellular fluid (ICF)
Bicarbonate has a higher concentration in which fluid compartment?
Bicarbonate has a higher concentration in extracellular fluid
(along with Sodium and Chloride)
Phosphate has a higher concentration in which fluid compartment?
Phosphate has a higher concentration in intracellular fluid
(along with potassium)
What are Aquaporins?
Specialized water-selective channels in the plasma membrane that are responsible for the rapid diffusion of water
What is water concentration of a solution dependent on?
Number of solutes dissolved in the water
(High osmolarity = lots of dissolved solute = water moves toward high osmolarity)
Water concentration is measured in:
Osmoles:
Osmolarity:
Water concentration is measured in:
Osmoles: 1 osmole (osm) = 1 mole of solute particles
Osmolarity: number of solutes per unit volume of sol’n expressed in moles/L
Water concentration is always recorded in ______
Water concentration is always recorded in osmoles
What is Osmosis defined as?
Net diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane from a region of high water concentration to one with lower water concentration
The pressure necessary to prevent solvent movement (osmosis) is known as:
Osmotic pressure of the solution
Define osmotic pressure
Pressure required to stop osmosis completely
- will push and prevent water from coming into the cell, to prevent them from taking in too much water and bursting
What is tonicity?
Tonicity= concentration of non-penetrating solutes of an extracellular sol’n
-solutes that cannot cross the plasma membrane BUT may influence changes in cell volume
- Tonicity is determined by:
- The concentrations of the non-penetrating solutes may influence ________
- Tonicity is determined by: The concentration of non-penetrating solutes of an extracellular solution relative to the intracellular environment
- The concentrations of the non-penetrating solutes may influence changes in cell volume
What are the three classes of tonicity that one solution could have relative to another?
- Isotonic (isoosmotic)
- same osmolarity outside and inside the cell
- Hypertonic (Hyperosmotic)
- higher osmolarity outside than inside the cell (water moves out)
- Hypotonic (Hypoosmotic)
- Lower osmolarity outside than inside the cell (water moves in)
isoosmotic, hyperosmotic, and hypoosmotic refer to the osmolarity but do not take into consideration in the solute is non-penetrating or penetrating
Water flows from a region of _____ osmolarity to a region of _____ osmolarity.
The normal osmolarity inside a cell is ~______
Water flows from a region of lower osmolarity to a region of higher osmolarity.
The normal osmolarity inside a cell is ~300mOsm/L (milliosmoles per liter)
How does cell volume change when a cell is placed into an isotonic solution?
No net change in cell volume
How does cell volume change when the cell is placed into a Hypertonic solution?
Hypertonic = ECF has higher osmolarity (higher [solute]) water will flow from inside the cell to outside and the cell will shrink
How does cell volume change when a cell is placed into a hypotonic solution?
Hypotonic = the ECF has a LOWER osmolarity (lower [solute])
Water will move back into the cell and the cell will swell
ECF compartment = ______ (which stays within the blood vessels) and _____
ECF compartment = Plasma (which stays within the blood vessels) and interstitial fluid
*Kidney’s can regulate the volume of the plasma
What is absorption?
Movement of water and solutes from the interstitial fluid compartment to the plasma
What is filtration?
Movement of water and solutes from the plasma to the interstitial fluid
Hydrostatic pressure is the pressure exerted by a ____
Hydrostatic pressure is the pressure exerted by a _fluid (_Every fluid has this property)
What is Capillary hydrostatic pressure?
Does it favour filtration or absorption?
Hydrostatic pressure exerted on the walls of the capillary by blood as it flows through the capillary
- Favours filtration
- ie pushes some of the fluid out of the capillary into the IF

What is Interstitial fluid hydrostatic pressure and does it favour filtration or absorption?
- Pressure of the IF on the walls of the capillary (PIF)
- Pushes fluid INTO the capillaries (ie favours absorption)

What is the contribution of the plasma proteins to fluid movement?
- Proteins are large and sometimes charged = cannot move in and out of capillaries easily
- Inside the plasma there is a high [plasma proteins] which contribute to osmolarity
- osmotic force due to plasma protein concentration (πC):
- ↑[p. proteins] = ↓[H2O] inside the capillaries
- Water will move into the capillary
- osmotic force due to plasma protein concentration (πC):
How is the Net filtration pressure calculated?
With the Starling forces (PC, πC, πIF, PIF)
Net Filtration Pressure = PC + πIF - PIF - πC
Forces out (PC + πIF)- Forces In (PIF + πC )
PC = Capillary hydrostatic pressure
πIF = Osmotic force due to interstitial fluid [protein]
πC = Osmotic force due to plasma [protein]
PIF = Interstitial fluid hydrostatic pressure
What are the four starling forces? What do they determine?
- PC
- πIF
- πC
- PIF
- PC = Capillary hydrostatic pressure
- πIF = Osmotic force due to interstitial fluid [protein]
- πC = Osmotic force due to plasma [protein]
- PIF = Interstitial fluid hydrostatic pressure
Starling forces determine the net filtration pressure
Look at the values in the image and calculate Net Filtration Pressure at the Arterial end of the capillary

Net filtration pressure = 35 + 3 - 0 - 28 = 10 mmHg = favours filtration
Look at the image and use the values to calculate the Net filtration pressure at the venous end of the capillary

Net filtration pressure = 15 + 3 - 0 - 28 = -10mmHg = Favours absorption
The kidneys are ______ in location
The kidneys are retroperitoneal in location
What is the Hilum?
Inner concave part of the kidney
The bladder receives innervation from the ______; emptying of the bladder is controlled by _______ and ________ inputs
The bladder receives innervation from the ANS; emptying of the bladder is controlled by parasympathetic and sympathetic inputs
What are the two major divisions of the nephron?
Where are they located?
- Renal corpuscle
- glomerulus
- bowman’s capsule
- Located in the CORTEX
- renal tubule
- Proximal convoluted tubule
- Loop of Henle
- Distal convoluted tubule
- Collecting Duct
- Located in the cortex with loop of henle extending into the renal medulla
What is the renal corpuscle?
- Initial blood filtering component of the nephron
- Composed of the glomerulus and the bowman’s capsule
Blood enters the renal corpuscle through the __________ and exits the renal corpuscle through the _______
Blood enters the renal corpuscles through the Afferent Arteriole and exits the renal corpuscles through the Efferent Arteriole
Outer wall of the bowman’s capsule is made of _______ and surrounds the ________
*Insert image from page 10 of lecture 2 slides*
Outer wall of the bowman’s capsule is made of epithelial cells and surrounds the bowman’s space (where filtrate enters)
What are podocytes?
Cells of the bowman’s capsule which come in contact with the glomerular capillaries (on invaginated region of the bowman’s capsule which forms the bowman’s cup)
The epithelial cell layer of the bowman’s capsule continues on to form the ______
The epithelial cell layer of the bowman’s capsule continues on to form the tubules
- portion where processing occurs to form the urine
- function differs depending on the segment of the tubule
What is the ultimate outcome of the development of the renal corpuscle?
Development of a hollow tube which becomes the bowman’s cup and continues on as the tubule
What are the three stages of Renal corpuscle development?
- When the kidneys are forming during fetal development
- nephron develops first as a blind-ended tube (no opening)
- tube is lined by a layer of epithelial cells sitting on a basement membrane
- Growing tuft of capillaries penetrate the expanded end of tubules
- tubule invaginates
- capillaries continue to move closer to the epithelial cell layer
- basal lamina is trapped in between endothelial cells of capillaries and epithelial layer
- Epithelial cell layer differentiates into parietal (outer) and visceral (inner) layers
- The outer layer does NOT fuse with the inner layer - space between them
- Parietal layer eentually flattened to become wall of bowman’s capsule and Visceral layer becomes Podocyte cell layer
What is the parietal layer of the Bowman’s Capsule?
The outer layer of epithelial cells which forms the outer wall of the bowman’s capsule
What is the visceral layer of the the bowman’s capsule?
The layer closest to the glomerular capillaries; cells are the podocytes
What is the basement membrane of the glomerular capillary (of the renal corpuscle) composed of?
Gel-like mesh structure composed of collagen proteins and glycoproteins
where are podocytes found in relation to the basement membrane?
Podocytes are found outside the basement membrane with filtration slits through which fluid moves
- foot processes (cytoplasmic projections) wrap around the capillaries and leave slits between them
what is the purpose the foot processes?
increase surface area available for filtration
What are the 3 layers of the glomerular capillary?
- endothelial layer
- fenestrated to allow for filtration
- basement membrane
- gel-like mesh made of collagen proteins and glycoproteins
- podocytes
- have filtration slits and foot processes to increase surface area available for filtration
What are the two types of nephron?
- Cortical Nephron (~85%)
- Renal corpuscle of the cortical nephrons is always found in the cortex
- tubule segment, collecting duce and distal convoluted tubule and the proximal tubule are mostly located in the cortex
- portions may dip into the medulla
- Juxtamedullary (15%)
- Sit closer to the medulla area
- Renal corpuscle is in cortex but closer to medulla
- Loop of henle and ascending limb are found in the renal medulla
What are the 3 types of renal processes?
- Filtration
- Reabsorption
- Secretion
What is the difference between the functions of cortical nephrons and juxtamedullary nephrons?
- Cortical nephtrons perform the three basic functions (filtration, reabsorption, secretion)
- Juxtamedullary nephrons perform the three functions AND regulate the concentration of urine
How do juxtamedullary nephrons regulate the concentration of urine?
- create osmotic gradients in the interstitial space or outside the Loop of Henle (in the medulla)
- Osmotic gradients help in water volume regulation
- retain fluid when dehydrated and produce more urine when hydrated.
- Afferent arteriole branches off from the _______ and diverges into the __________
- Brings blood into the _________
- Blood travels through the ______ in the ________
- Afferent arteriole branches off from the renal artery and diverges into the capillaries of the glomerulus
- Brings blood into the glomerular capillary network
- Blood travels through the Bowman’s capsule in the glomerulus or glomerular capillaries
Blood exits the glomerulus through the _______ arteriole which branches to form a set of capillaries called the _________
Blood exits the glomerulus through the efferent arteriole which branches to form a set of capillaries called the peritubular capillary network
- Peritubular capillaries are found around the proximal convoluted tubules
- fuse together to form the renal vein
Capillaries that are found mostly associated with juxtamedullary nephrons in the medullary portion of the kidney = ________
Vasa recta
Both the _______ and the _______ are important for forming the osmotic gradient
Both the loop of henle and the vasa recta are important for forming the osmotic gradient
What happens during glomerular filtration?
Fluid in the blood is filtered across the capillaries of the glomerulus and into bowman’s space
- blood is brought to the kidneys by the renal artery and then enters the glomeruli through the afferent arterioles, where it undergoes glomerular filtration
What are the three basic processes in the production of urine
- Glomerular filtration
- fluid in blood filtered across capillaries of glomerulus into bowmans space
- Tubular reabsorption
- movement of substance from the lumen back into the blood
- Tubular secretion
- movement of nonfiltered substances from the capillaries into the tubular lumen
What is tubular reabsorption?
- Movement of a substance from inside the tubule into the blood
- eg: glucose is reabsorbed as it is a very important energy source
What is tubular secretion?
Movement of nonfiltered substances from the capillaries into the tubular lumen
- waste products that did not undergo filtration can be removed from the blood via tubular secretion
Urinary excretion: Blood is filtered at the ______ and then substances are added _________ to the tubules while other substances are ______
Urinary excretion: Blood is filtered at the glomeruli and then substances are added (secreted) to the tubules while other substances are reabsorbed
What are the filtration layers?
Layers that substances cross as they moved from the lumen of the glomerular capillareis into Bowman’s space
Include:
- Capillary endothelial layer
- Basement membrane
- Podocytes with filtration slits
What is filtered out of the blood at the glomerulus?
Almost everything except large proteins (albumin), large anions and blood cells
- water, electrolytes, glucose, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins and waste products such as urea, uric acid and creatinine
Why aren’t proteins filtered at the glomerulus?
(4)
- Fenestrations in the capillary endothelium are not large enough to allow proteins to pass through
- Fenestrations (pores) have negative charges and thus repel the negative charge on some proteins
- Basement membrane also has negative charge
- Foot processes of the podocytes interdigitate and form filtration slits
- slits remain covered with fine semiporous membranes made up of proteins such as nephrins and podocins
- Foot processes of the podocytes interdigitate and form __________
- these are covered with ____________ made up of proteins such as _______ and ________
- Foot processes of the podocytes interdigitate and form filtration slits
- these are covered with fine semiporous membranes made up of proteins such as nephrins and podocins
How is the concentration of a substrate filtered through the filtration layers different in the plasma and in the filtrate?
The concentration of a substrate filtered through the filtration layers is the same between the plasma and the filtrate
What is ultrafiltrate?
the cell free fluid that has come into bowman’s space and, except for plasma proteins (and substances bound to them) and blood cells, contains mostly all the substances at the same concentrations as in the plasma
What is proteinuria?
A condition where some of the proteins that are not supposed to pass through the filtration barrier show up in the filtrate and ultimately in the urine
What could a mutation in the synthesis of podocins and nephrins result in?
Recall: Podocins and nephrins make up the semiporous membranes covering the filtration slits of podocytes to assist in the prevention protein filtration at the glomerulus
- mutation in these proteins would resule in proteinuria (protein filtered at glomerulus into bowman’s space and showing up in the urine)
What are the forces involved in Glomerular filtration?
(3)
- PGC
- Glomerular capillary hydrostatic pressure
- hydrostatic pressure of the blood that is found in the glomerulus (pushes fluid out of capillary and into bowman’s space = favours filtration)
- 60mmHg
- PBS
- Bowman’s space hydrostatic pressure
- fluid pressure in bowman’s space
- opposes filtration
- 15mmHg
- πGC
- Osmotic force due to proteins in the plasma
- Higher [protein] in plasma than in bowman’s space
- opposes filtration
- 29mmHg
What is PGC
PGC
- Glomerular capillary hydrostatic pressure
- hydrostatic pressure of the blood that is found in the glomerulus (pushes fluid out of capillary and into bowman’s space = favours filtration)
- 60mmHg
What is PBC
PBS
- Bowman’s space hydrostatic pressure
- fluid pressure in bowman’s space
- opposes filtration
- 15mmHg
What is πGC
πGC
- Osmotic force due to proteins in the plasma
- Higher [protein] in plasma than in bowman’s space
- opposes filtration
- 29mmHg
What is the Net glomerular filtration pressure?
Sum of the three forces (PGC, PBS, πGC)
Forces favouring filtration - forces opposing filtration
Net filtration = PGC - PBS - πGC
= 60 - 15 - 29 = 16mmHg
- Positive pressure = pushes protein free filtrate from the plasma out of the glomerulus into Bowman’s space
What is the osmotic force due to proteins in the Bowman’s space (πBS)
Zero in a healthy individual because there should be NO proteins in the Bowman’s space
What factor would contribute to an increase in the glomerular filtration rate?
High blood pressure
- Increase in BP would increase glomerular filtration rate
What factor would result in a decrease in the glomerular filtration rate?
Increase in the protein concentration in the plasma would increase the protein content in the glomerular capillaries (increase πGC) thus decreasing glomerular filtration rate
What is “filtration fraction”
- Plasma volume entering the afferent arteriole = 100%
- 20% of the plasma volume is filtered into Bowman’s space, this is the filtration fraction
What happens to the 80% of plasma that is not filtered into Bowman’s space?
Of the 20% that is filtered, how much is excreted?
- The 80% leaves through the efferent arterioles into the peritubular capillaries and eventually back into the main circulation
- Of the 20% that is filtered, 19% is reabsorbed into the peritubular capillaries
- ~1% of the volume that was filtered will be excreted to the external environment
The volume of fluid filtered from the glomerulus into the Bowman’s space per unit time is called the:
Glomerular filtration rate
What is a normal Glomerular filtration rate?
What is this number used for in a clinical setting?
- 125mL/minute OR 180L/day *Not a fixed Value*
- Used to look at the health of the kidney
What are four factors that affect Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)?
- Net glomerular filtration pressure (blood pressure)
- Neural and endocrine control
- Permeability of the corpuscular membrane
- surface area available for filtration
GFR remains fairly constant despite large changes in arterial pressure or renal blood flow due to _______
- Glomerular filtration rate remains fairy constant as the _________ changes from 80mmHg to 180mmHg
GFR remains fairly constant despite large changes in arterial pressure or renal blood flow due to autoregulation
- Glomerular filtration rate remains fairy constant as the mean arterial pressure changes from 80mmHg to 180mmHg
Autoregulation is regulated by changes in the _______ as well as by the _________ effect
Autoregulation is regulated by changes in the myogenic reflex as well as by the tubuloglomerular effect
In what range of mean arterial blood pressure can the glomerular filtration rate remain fairly constant?
80mmHg to 180mmHg
Resistance changes in the renal arterioles alter ______ and ________
Resistance changes in the renal arterioles alter renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate
How can resistance of the afferent arteriole be changed to alter how much blood is coming in?
- Constriction of the afferent arteriole
- due to myogenic response
- Constriction increases resistance to flow and will decrease renal blood flow to the glomerulus
- Decrease in renal blood flow reduces the hydrostatic pressure of the glomerular capillary (PGC) resulting in decrease in the glomerular filtration rate
What causes constriction of the afferent arteriole and how will this constriction alter GFR?
- Constriction due to myogenic response
- Increases resistance afferent in arterial = decreases renal blood flow = decrease PGC = decrease glomerular filtration rate
What are four scenarios that can alter GFR?
-
Constrict afferent arteriole
- Decrease PGC = decrease GFR
-
Constrict efferent arteriole
- volume of blood builds up in the glomerular capillaries = increase PGC = Increase GFR
-
Dilate efferent arteriole
- Decrease resistance = renal blood will drain rapidly = decrease PGC = decrease GFR
-
Dilate afferent arteriole
- increase BF to afferent arteriole = increase PGC = Increase GFR
How will each of the following scenarious affect GFR?
- Constrict afferent arteriole
- Constrict efferent arteriole
- Dilate efferent arteriole
- Dilate afferent arteriole
- Constrict afferent arteriole
- Decrease PGC= decrease GFR
- Constrict efferent arteriole
- volume of blood builds up in the glomerular capillaries = increase PGC = Increase GFR
- Dilate efferent arteriole
- Decrease resistance = renal blood will drain rapidly = decrease PGC= decrease GFR
- Dilate afferent arteriole
- increase BF to afferent arteriole = increase PGC= Increase GFR
What is the myogenic response?
Myo = muscle
Arteriole smooth muscle contracts or relaxes in response to increases or decreases in pressure
What is tubular glomerular feedback? (tubuloglomerular feedback)
- Juxtaglomerular apparatus has tubuloglomerular feeback
- controls the autoregulatory processes and affects the glomerular filtration rate depending on the volume flowing through the JGA
- Tubuloglomerular feedback is an adaptive mechanism that links the rate of glomerular filtration to the concentration of salt in the tubule fluid at the macula densa
What is the juxtaglomerular apparatus (JGA)?
- specialized structure formed by the distal convoluted tubule and the glomerular afferent arteriole
- Next to the glomerulus
- Helps control GFR via tubuloglomerular feedback
What are three cell types that control glomerular filtration rate at the JGA?
- Macula densa
- Juxtaglomerular cells
- Mesengial cells (NOT CONSIDERED PART OF THE JGA)
What is the macula densa?
Cells of the juxtaglomerular apparatus:
- on wall of distal tubule at the junction where the ascending limb is beginning to form the distal tubule
- close proximity to the glomerulus
- sense increase in sodium and increased flow through distal tubule
- secrete vasoactive compounds
- By paracrine effects changes afferent arteriole resistance
- adenosine is a paracrince factor which has an effect on arteriolar resistance by signalling JG cells
What are juxtaglomerular cells?
Cells of the Juxtoglomerular apparatus (JGA)
- aka granular cells
- sit on top of the afferent arteriole
- innervated by sympathetic nerve fibres which can change the resistance of the afferent arteriole
- Release renin which controls afferent arteriole resistance
What are mesangial cells?
Found in the triangular region between the afferent and efferent arterioles
- Not considered part of JGA
- Contraction allows podocytes to contract
- shrinks surface area of glomerular filtration surface
- contribute to controlling filtration surface area which affects the GFR
Which cells of the JGA secrete vasoactive compounds and sense increased sodium and increased flow through the distal tubule?
Macula densa cells on the wall of the distal tubule
What cells of the JGA secrete renin?
Juxtaglomerular cells on top of the afferent arteriole
What is the role of the macula densa in tubuloglomerular feedback?
- When increased fluid volume flows through the distal tubule, there is a feedback effect on the glomerular structure in controlling the GFR
- Increase in the GFR = Increase flow to the tubule = flow past macula densa increases = paracrine factors from the macula densa are secreted = act on afferent arteriole = constricts = resistance in afferent arteriole increases = PGC decreases = GFR decreases
What is filtered load?
How is it calculated?
- The amount of a substance that is filtered by the kidneys per day or, how much of the load is filtered into bowman’s space
- Calculated by multiplying the glomerular filtration rate by the concentration of the substance in the plasma
- Filtered load = (GFR)([substance in plasma])
- eg: filtered load of glucose:
- [glucose] in blood = 1g/L
- GFR = 180L/day
- Filtered load (glucose) = (180)(1) = 180g/day
What is indicated if the substance excreted in urine is less that the filtered load of that substance?
Reabsorption has occurred
What is indicated if the substance excreted in the urine is more than the filtered load?
Secretion has occurred
What is indicated by each of the 3 figures?

1) Filtration + secretion = 100% secretion
2) Filtration + partial reabsorption = only small amount shows in urine (less than filtration fraction)
3) Filtration + complete reabsorption = 100% reabsorption (eg glucose)

What are two examples of substances that undergo only filtration (ie whatever is filtered is excreted, no reabsorption, and no secretion)

- Inulin
- freely filtered
- Filtered only and what is filtered is excreted completely in the urine
- No secretion or reabsorption
- A polysaccharide that is found in vegetables and plants
- Creatinine
- Filtered only and what is filtered is excreted completely in the urine
- No secretion or reabsorption
What is ultrafiltrate?
the protein-free fluid formed as the plasma is filtered at the glomerulus; the concentration of substances in the filtrate and in the plasma, except for plasma proteins (and blood cells), should be the same
Approximately __% of the plasma that enters into the glomerular capillaries is filtered into Bowman’s space; this is the ________
Approximately 20% of the plasma that enters into the glomerular capillaries is filtered into Bowman’s space; this is the filtration fraction
Provide an example of a substance that would undergo filtration and partial reabsorption

Electrolytes (eg sodium)
What types of substances (2) would we expect to see to undergo filtration and complete reabsorption?

Glucose and Amino Acids
What types of molecules would we expect to be filtered and secreted?
Organic acids (PAH: para-aminohippuric acid) and bases
*PAH measures renal plasma flow*

What molecule is often used clinically to measure renal plasma flow?
Para-aminohippuric acid (PAH) – an organic acid that undergoes filtration and secretion
The reabsorption of _____\_ is not physiologically regulated
The reabsorption of glucose is not physiologically regulated
The body regulates the reabsorption of ___\_and ____\_
The body regulates the reabsorption of water and sodium
What are the two pathways of reabsorption?
- Diffusion across tight junction (paracellular = in between cells) - minor
- Mediated transport (transepithelial) - major
- tubular lumen → cell → interstitial space → peritubular capillary
How is sodium reabsorbed?
At the Luminal/apical surface?
At the basolateral membrane?

- Na+ diffuses passively down it’s concentration gradient from the lumen, across the apical membrane into the cell
- Na+ is then actively transported out of the cell across the basolateral membrane via the Na+/K+ pump (req ATP)
- 3 Na+ out (into interstitial space) 2 K+ in
- Na+ then moves into the peritubular capillaries through bulk flow

During sodium reabsorption, Na+ is moved across the apical membrane via diffusion down its concentration gradient. What establishes that concentration gradient?
Sodium enters the cell down its gradient because of the active transport of sodium on the basolateral side by the Na+/K+ pump
- Filtrate in the lumen has a high [Na+] and inside the proximal tubule cell there is a low [Na+] which is maintained due to the actions of the Na+/K+ pump

The low concentration of sodium inside the cell causes sodium to move into the cell from the tubule lumen;
- there is a _______\_ driving sodium into the cell
- This low concentration of sodium inside the cell is maintained due to the actions of the ______\_in the ________\_
- Once the sodium enters the cell from the lumen, it is pumped out into the interstitial fluid through the ______\_
The low concentration of sodium inside the cell causes sodium to move into the cell from the tubule lumen;
- there is a concentration gradient driving sodium into the cell
- This low concentration of sodium inside the cell is maintained due to the actions of the Na+ /K + pump in the basolateral membrane
- Once the sodium enters the cell from the lumen, it is pumped out into the interstitial fluid through the Na+ /K + pump
Transepithelial transport of sodium is ____________\_:
- On the basolateral membrane, transport of sodium is mediated by the_______________
- On the luminal/apical membrane, the influx of sodium occurs as sodium flows into the cell due to ____________\_
- This occurs as well with the use of a ____________\_
- Sodium accumulates in the _______________and then moves into the ____________\_
- Sodium moves into the capillary by ____________\_or ____________\_
Transepithelial transport of sodium is mediated transport:
- On the basolateral membrane, transport of sodium is mediated by the Na+ /K + pump
- On the luminal/apical membrane, the influx of sodium occurs as sodium flows into the cell due to its concentration gradient (high [Na+] in lumen and low [Na+] in cell)
- This occurs as well with the use of a membrane protein
- Sodium accumulates in the interstitial fluid and then moves into the peritubular capillaries
- Sodium moves into the capillary by diffusion or bulk transport
At normal plasma glucose concentrations, what is the clearance of glucose?
Zero = no glucose is excreted in the urine
All filtered glucose is reabsorbed, how is this accomplished?
- proximal tubule

In the proximal tubule, glucose is reabsorbed by:
- Active transport on the luminal side by SGLT protein (sodium-glucose linked transporters)
-
Facilitated diffusion on the basolateral side using carrier protein GLUT (glucose transporter)
- Carrier-mediated facilitated diffusion

What is glucosuria?
When glucose appears in the urine because it is above the renal threshold (ie exceeds transport maximum Tm)
What is the transport maximum (Tm)
Limit of substance that can be transported/time
What two types of transporters are involved in the reabsorption of glucose?
- Sodium-linked glucose transporter (SGLT) = sodium-dependent glucose reabsorption
- on the apical membrane of the cell
- uses inwardly directed [Na+] gradient (as energy) to drive the influx of glucose into the cell against its concentration gradient
- Secondary Active transport
-
GLUT (Glucose transporter) = carrier-mediated facilitated diffusion
- Glucose concentration is higher in cell than in the interstitial fluid therefore it diffuses across the basolateral membrane using the GLUT protein

Describe graph A

- Filtration rate of glucose is proportional to your plasma glucose concentration
- If your plasma [glucose] increases, the filtration rate of glucose will increase
- glucose will be filtered through the glomerulus
- Linear relationship
Describe Graph B:
- Initially, when plasma glucose concentration increases, reabsorption by the kidney will increase; a linear relationship
- Reabsorption of glucose is linear up to ____________\_
- Body’s normal range of reabsorbing glucose is between ____________\_
- After ____________\_, the graph reaches plateau
- no more reabsorption after this point
- this is the ____________\_
- At Tm all the _____\_ proteins that transport glucose from the lumen to the peritubular capillaries are saturated
- all the binding sites are occupied and cannot transport any more glucose - the graph plateaus

- Initially, when plasma glucose concentration increases, reabsorption by the kidney will increase; a linear relationship
- Reabsorption of glucose is linear up to ~300mg/100mL plasma
- Body’s normal range of reabsorbing glucose is between 100-200mg/100mL plasma
- After 300mg/100mL plasma, the graph reaches plateau
- no more reabsorption after this point
- this is the transport maximum
- At Tm all the SGLT proteins that transport glucose from the lumen to the peritubular capillaries are saturated
- all the binding sites are occupied and cannot transport any more glucose - the graph plateaus
Describe Graph C:
- Normally glucose should not be found in the urine
- When will glucose show up in the urine?
- What is the Transport maximum of glucose and what happens once it’s reached?
- What is the known renal threshold (Tm) of glucose?
- What is the Transport maximum of glucose and what happens once it’s reached?

- Normally glucose should not be found in the urine
- Glucose will show up in the urine if the body’s limit for handling glucose has been reached
- At 300 mg/100 mL plasma the transport maximum for glucose has been reached and there is no additional reabsorption of glucose
- 300 mg/100 mL is known as the renal threshold
- Beyond this value, glucose comes out in the urine
- This occurs in a diabetic person
- At 300 mg/100 mL plasma the transport maximum for glucose has been reached and there is no additional reabsorption of glucose
What establishes the Transport maximum?
The transport maximum is the limit of substance that can be transported/unit time
- Binding sites of transport proteins become saturated
- All binding sites are occupied
- Filtered load exceeds the limit of reabsorption
What establishes the glucose transport maximum?
- Each SGLT protein can only bind to one glucose and each cell has a finite number of SGLT proteins
- Limit to the number of glucose molecules that can be picked up on the luminal side of the cell = Tm
- When there is too much glucose in the filtered load in the lumen, glucose shows up in the urine
What are two conditions that could be indicated by glucose in the urine?
-
Diabetes mellitus
- capacity to reabsorb glucose is normal but filtered load is greatly increased (beyond the threshold level for glucose reabsorption in the tubules)
- SGLT are functioning
- Too much glucose in the blood because insulin not working properly
-
Renal glucosuria
- benign glucosuria or familial renal glucosuria
- Genetic mutation of the Na+/glucose cotransporter (SGLT)
- normally mediates active reabsorption of glucose in the proximal tubules
- These mutations of SGLT result in the inability to transport glucose from the luminal side and across the peritubular capillaries
- Filtered load may be small/normal but glucose shows up in the urine because SGLT cannot transport glucose (low reabsorption)
How does Diabetes mellitus cause glucose to show up in the urine?
Diabetes mellitus
- capacity to reabsorb glucose is normal but the filtered load is greatly increased (beyond the threshold level for glucose reabsorption in the tubules)
- SGLT are functioning
- Too much glucose in the blood because insulin not working properly
How does renal glucosuria cause glucose to appear in the urine?
Renal glucosuria
- benign glucosuria or familial renal glucosuria
- Genetic mutation of the Na+/glucose cotransporter (SGLT)
- normally mediates active reabsorption of glucose in the proximal tubules
- These mutations of SGLT result in the inability to transport glucose from the luminal side and across the peritubular capillaries
- Filtered load may be small/normal but glucose shows up in the urine because SGLT cannot transport glucose (low reabsorption)
Urea is freely filtered at the _________
- How does the concentration of urea in the bowman’s space compare to concentration of urea in the plasma
Urea is freely filtered at the glomerulus
- How does the concentration of urea in the bowman’s space compare to concentration of urea in the plasma
Reabsorption of urea:
- Sodium is reabsorbed by ________\_
-
________\_ drives anion reabsorption
- what is an example of an anion that may move out of the lumen down its electrochemical gradient?
- As sodium and anions are moving out of the lumen into the extracellular fluid, the extracellular fluid is ________\_ than the fluid remaining in the lumen
- Water now flows out of the lumen by ________\_following the reabsorption of ________\_ and other ________\_
- Urea will ________\_ down its concentration gradient
- Urea reabsorption is dependent upon ________\_ = 4 steps
Reabsorption of urea:
- Sodium is reabsorbed by active transport
-
Electrochemical gradient drives anion reabsorption
- Chloride is an example of an anion that may move out of the lumen, down its electrochemical gradient
- As sodium and anions are moving out of the lumen into the extracellular fluid, the extracellular fluid is more concentrated than the fluid remaining in the lumen
- Water now flows out of the lumen by osmosis following the reabsorption of sodium and other electrolytes
- Urea will diffuse down its concentration gradient
- Urea reabsorption is dependent upon water reabsorption = 4 steps:
- First, water has to move
- The concentration of urea has increased because the same amount of urea is contained in a smaller volume, as water has diffused out of the lumen
- Urea then moves out of the lumen side into the interstitial space
- Urea reabsorption is dependent on water reabsorption
- Urea reabsorption is dependent upon water reabsorption = 4 steps:
In tubular secretion, substances move from the _______ to the ______
- Involves mostly ____ and ____
- 3 other substances secreted?
- Involves what kind of mediated movement?
- Coupled to ________
In tubular secretion, substances move from the peritubular plasma to the tubular lumen
- Involves mostly H+ and K+
- 3 other substances secreted
- Penicillin
- Choline
- Creatinine
- Involves active transport
- Coupled to the reabsorption of Na+
How are inulin and creatinine handled differently?
Creatinine undergoes secretion;
Inulin does not undergo secretion or reabsorption (whatever is filtered is what is secreted in the urine)
What is Renal Clearance?
Way of measuring or quantifying how well the kidneys are functioning
- looks at how well the kidneys clear or remove substances
- Looks at excretory products
- Measures the volume of plasma from which a substance is completely removed from the kidney per unit time
Renal clearance is the volume of ___________
Renal clearance is the volume of plasma that is measured
- when a substance is cleared from the plasma it will be removed in the urine
- As a result, the clearance for substance S is the amount, or mass of substance S, excreted per unit of time divided by plasma concentration
Clearance of “S” = USV / Ps
Cs = Clearance of S
Us = concentration of S in the urine
V = volume of urine passed (mL/min)
Ps = concentration of substance in plasma
What substance is used to measure clearance?
Inulin
What is inulin?
- Polysaccharide not found in the body
- Readily filtered but not reabsorbed, secreted, or metabolized by the tubule
- The clearance of Inulin is equal to GFR (filtration rate)
- Can be used to measure GFR
Measuring the clearance of inulin provides a measure of what?
Glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
What is creatinine?
How is it handled by the kidneys?
How is its clearance used clinically?
- What is creatinine?
- product of muscle metabolism
- How is it handled by the kidneys?
- filtered, not reabsorbed
- undergoes slight secretion
- clearance will be slightly higher than GFR
- How is its clearance used clinically?
- Can be used clinically to estimate GFR
- GFR is inversely proportional to the plasma concentration of the substance
If the clearance of a substance X is greater than the glomerular filtration rate of 125 millilitres per minute, substance X is being _________
If the clearance of a substance X is greater than the glomerular filtration rate of 125 millilitres per minute, substance X is being secreted
If the clearance of substance X is less than the glomerular filtration rate of 125 millilitres per minute, substance X is being _________
If the clearance of substance X is less than the glomerular filtration rate of 125 millilitres per minute, substance X is being reabsorbed
How are the ions Na+, Cl- and K+ handled in the nephron?
- Na+
- Actively reabsorbed
- Cl-
- Transported passively when Na+ is pumped out of the cell (follows Na+)
- K+
- secreted into the tubules mainly by cells of the distal and collecting ducts
What happens in the Proximal convoluted tubule?
The PCT
- Reabsorbs majority of water and non-waste plasma solutes
- Major site of solute secretion except K+

What happens in the Loop of Henle?
Loop of henle creates an osmotic gradient in the interstitial space
- reabsorbs large amounts of ions and not as much water

What happens in Distal convoluted tubule?
- Site of major physiological control for water reabsorption
- Major homeostatic mechanisms of fine control of water and solute to produce urine

Reabsorption or Secretion:
- Proximal convoluted tubules
- Loop of Henle
- Distal Convoluted tubules
- Nutritionally valuable substances
Reabsorption or Secretion:
-
Proximal convoluted tubules:
- 80% reabsorptive and secretory activities
-
Loop of Henle
- little water, but large amounts of ions are reabsorbed
-
Distal Convoluted tubules
- 12-15% reabsorption occurs here
-
Nutritionally valuable substances
- completely reabsorbed
What are two sources of water gain and 3 avenues of water loss?
Water Gain:
- Ingested liquid
- Water from oxidation of food
Water loss:
- Skin, respiratory airways, insensible (not sensed) water loss
- Sweat
- GI tract, urinary tract, menstrual flow
Large volume of water (~67%) is reabsorbed in the __________
Large volume of water (~67%) is reabsorbed in the proximal tubules
- Aquaporins are always open in the proximal tubule cells (PTC’s)
Water reabsorption is dependent on the reabsorption of _______
Water reabsorption is dependent on the reabsorption of Na+
- Osmotic gradient set up by Na+ reabsorption acts as the driving force for water reabsorption
Which region(s) of the kidney involved in water reabsorption is under physiological control?
Cortical and medullary collecting duct
Which hormone regulates water reabsorption?
Vasopressin or antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
How does ADH (aka vasopressin) regulate water reabsorption?
Regulates a specific type of aquaporin in the collecting ducts
In the Proximal tubule:
- Percent of filtered water reabsorbed
- Mechanism of water reabsorption
- Hormones that regulate water permeability
In the Proximal tubule:
- Percent of filtered water reabsorbed
- 67
- Mechanism of water reabsorption
- Passive (AQP-1)
- Hormones that regulate water permeability
- none
In the Loop of Henle:
- % of filtered water reabsorbed
- Mechanism of water reabsorption
- Hormones that regulate water Permeability
In the Loop of Henle:
- % of filtered water reabsorbed
- 15
- Mechanism of water reabsorption
- Descending thin limb, passive (AQP-1)
- Hormones that regulate water Permeability
- None
In the Distal tubule:
- % filtered water reabsorbed
- Mechanism of water reabsorption
- Hormones that regulate water permeability
In the Distal tubule:
- % filtered water reabsorbed
- 0
- Mechanism of water reabsorption
- No water reabsorption
- Hormones that regulate water permeability
- none
In the Large Distal tubule and collecting Duct:
- % filtered water reabsorbed
- Mechanism of water reabsorption
- Hormones that regulate water permeability
In the Large Distal tubule and collecting Duct:
- % filtered water reabsorbed
- 8-17
- Mechanism of water reabsorption
- Passive (AQP-2,3,4)
- Hormones that regulate water permeability
- Vasopressin/ADH
In the Proximal convoluted tubule, how is water transported?
- Open aquaporins allow water to move through, but _________\_ has to take place
- Na+ /K+ pump on the _________\_side of the tubule cell drives _________\_ out of the cell into the _________\_ fluid
- This creates a _________\_concentration of sodium inside the tubular cell, providing a gradient for the movement of _________\_ from the _________\_
- Sodium transport into the cell _________\_ local osmolarity in the tubular fluid adjacent to the cell
- Therefore the water concentration has _______\_ compared to the interstitial fluid
- Water will move through the cell from the ________\_into the _________\_ by osmosis
- It will move through the cell through _________\_or through the _________\_

In the Proximal convoluted tubule, how is water transported?
- Open aquaporins allow water to move through, but sodium reabsorption has to take place
- Na+ /K+ pump on the basolateral side of the tubule cell drives sodium out of the cell into the interstitial fluid
- This creates a lower concentration of sodium inside the tubular cell, providing a gradient for the movement of sodium into the cell from the tubular lumen
- Sodium transport into the cell decreases local osmolarity in the tubular fluid adjacent to the cell
- Therefore the water concentration has gone up compared to the interstitial fluid
- Water will move through the cell from the luminal side into the interstitial side by osmosis
- It will move through the cell through aquaporin I or through the tight junctions

Explain how water is reabsorbed through the thin descending portion of the loop of henle:
Through aquaporins (diffusion/osmosis)

How is water reabsorbed in the ascending limb of the loop of henle?
Ascending limb of loop of henle is impermeable to water = no water leaves
- Salt is reabsorbed through thick ascending portion of loop of henle

What characteristics of the Loop of Henle allow for countercurrent multiplication? What is the outcome of countercurrent multiplication?
- The loop of henle is a single tubule with two sides very closely juxtaposed
- Fluid streams in opposite direction
- Each side has different transport capabilities
- Descending limb: water can diffuse out from the tubule lumen into the interstitial space
- Ascending limb: impermeable to water
- Creates an osmotic gradient

What is the Net result of the actions of the descending and ascending limbs of the loop of henle?
- Loop of henle
- Descending limb (300mOsm/L - normal plasma osmolarity)
- Ascending limb - active transport of NaCl
- impermeable to water
- Interstitial fluid is hyperosmotic compared to ascending limb fluid
- Net Result:
- Gradient difference between the interstitial space/descending limb and ascending limb of 200mOsm (ALWAYS a difference of 200mOsm)

What is the goal of the descending limb of the loop of henle?
To create a hyperosmolar interstitial environment in the interstitial fluid
Multiplication of the gradient down the length of the loop of henle is called the _________
Multiplication of the gradient down the length of the loop of henle is called the countercurrent multiplier

Fluid becomes concentrated in the _________
- Dilutes fluid again as it goes through the _______ and enters the distal tubule
- Distal tubule has very dilute fluid (100mOsm/L)
- ____\_works on the collecting duct and fluid inside the tubule becomes _____\_ with the interstitial space (300Osm/L)
- More water is reabsorbed from the cortical collecting duct due to __\_ effect
- High osmolarity gradient that is established in the interstitial space helps the water to ____________\_

Fluid becomes concentrated in the descending limb
- Dilutes fluid again as it goes through the ascending limb and enters the distal tubule
- Distal tubule has very dilute fluid (100mOsm/L)
- ADH works on the collecting duct and fluid inside the tubule becomes isoosmotic with the interstitial space (300Osm/L)
- More water is reabsorbed from the cortical collecting duct due to ADH effect
- High osmolarity gradient that is established in the interstitial space helps the water to permeate out of the medullary collecting tubule

What is the vasa recta?
Blood vessels that run parallel to the Loop of Henle
- counter current bloodflow (blood flows through in one direction and out the other)
Why is a hyperosmotic interstitial gradient created?
To absorb water into the interstitial space
- created by juxtamedullary nephrons (deep in medulla, surrounded by vasa recta)
What type of nephrons create the hyperosmotic interstitial gradient?
Juxtamedullary nephrons
What are three ways that the vasa recta helps with countercurrent exchange?
- Blood flow in the vasa recta serves as countercurrent exchangers
- helps in maintaining the Na+ and Cl- gradient
- Gradient is not washed away
- Blood flow in medulla is low
- less than 5% of the total renal blood flow and is sluggish
- prevents solute loss
- The capillaries are freely permeable to ions, urea and water and they move in and out of the capillaries in response to the concentration gradients
- Vasa recta does not create medullary hyperosmolarity, but prevents it from being washed out, therefore, it maintains it
Compare filtrate flow through the loop of henle to blood flow through the vasa recta
Blood flow in the vasa recta is in the opposite direction to fluid flow in the Loop of Henle

what is the purpose of the Vasa Recta?
- Permeable to ___________
- Therefore;
what is the purpose of the Vasa Recta?
- Permeable to both salt, urea and water
- Therefore:
- Reinforces the gradient created by the renal rubules by exchange of salt and water
- Leads to increase in Na+ and urea concentration in the renal medulla intersitial space

What mechanism of the Vasa Recta is responsible for reinforcing the gradient created by the renal tubules leading to increased [Na+] and [urea] in the renal medulla interstitial space?
- The vasa recta is permeable to solutes (salt, urea) and water
- NaCl moves out of the ascending limb (active transport) of loop of henle to enter the descending limb of vasa recta as blood enters the descending limb of the vasa recta
- water diffuses out of the descending limb into the ascending limb
Leads to increase in Na+ and urea concentration in the renal medulla interstitial space

What is the function of the vasa recta?
How does blood entering the vasa recta compare to blood exiting the vasa recta?
The loop-like vasa recta maintain the gradient established by the loop of Henle. The blood is only slightly higher in osmolarity when it leaves the vasa recta compared to when it entered the vasa recta
What is the fate of filtered Urea?
*** how much of the filtered urea is excreted?
(Recycling and Trapping of Urea)
- Urea is a waste product
- 50% of the filtered urea is reabsorbed in the proximal tubule
- trapped in the interstitial space to maintain gradient
- 50% secreted BACK into the Loop of Henle
- 100% of the urea enters the Distal Convoluted Tubule
- 30% reabsorbed again from cortical collecting duct
- 55% reabsorbed from the IMCD (inner medullary collecting duct)
- helped by ADH
- 5% diffuses out of the vasa recta
- 50% recycled (secreted) back into the tubule
- Minimal uptake of urea by vasa recta and recycling urea in the interstitial space helps in maintaining high osmolarity in the medulla
- 15% of original amount is excreted (Much less than filtered amount)

How much of the original amount of filtered urea is secreted?
15%
How is urea used in maintaining the high osmolarity in the medulla?
Minimal uptake of urea by vasa recta and recycling urea in the interstitial space helps maintain high osmolarity in the medulla
What 5 mechanisms help to maintain the hyperosmotic environment of the medulla?
- Counter-current anatomy and opposing fluid flow through the Loop of Henle of the Juxtamedullary nephrons
- Reabsorption of NaCl in the ascending limb
- Impermeability of ascending limb to water
- Trapping of urea in the medulla
- Hairpin loops of vasa recta maintains the hyperosmotic interstitium in the medulla
Why is there a need for concentrated urine?
Kidneys save water by producing hyperosmotic urine
______ regulates water reabsorption in the collecting ducts
ADH regulates water reabsorption in the collecting ducts
Because the sodium concentration and the extracellular body fluid volume are closely linked, any changes in total [Na+] would lead to changes in _______ and _______
Because the sodium concentration and the extracellular body fluid volume are closely linked, any changes in total [Na+] would lead to changes in blood volume and blood pressure
How is plasma osmolarity determined?
By measuring plasma sodium concentration
What dictates how much water will be excreted?
What exerts physiological control of water reabsorption/excretion?
- Volume of water reabsorption dictates how much water will be excreted
- Physiological control of water reabsorption/excretion is exerted by ADH (antidiuretic hormone) also called vasopressin
What is diuresis?
Void/produce a large amount of urine
What is antidiuresis?
Reduction in or suppression of the excretion of a large volume of urine
What type of hormone is ADH (vasopressin/antidiuretic hormone) and where is it made?
Peptide hormone made in the hypothalamus
(released by pituitary gland)
What stimulates the release of ADH?
Cells in the hypothalamus sense the osmolarity of the plasma
- reduction in plasma volume
___________ cells in the hypothalamus that make ADH are found in the ___________
Neurosecretory cells in the hypothalamus that make ADH are found in the Supraoptic nucleus (SON)
called “sensors of osmolarity”

What cells are known as the “sensors of osmolarity”?
Neurosecretory cells in the hypothalamus found in the supraoptic nucleus
What is the site of action of ADH?
Collecting ducts
What type of aquaporin is found in the proximal convoluted tubules?
AQP1
What type(s) of aquaporins are found in the collecting ducts?
AQP2,3,4
AQP2 insertion on the _____ side is regulated by ______ via __________
AQP2 insertion on the laminal side is regulated by ADH via AQP2 gene transcription
Are AQPs on the basolateral membranes of the CD regulated by ADH?
No, AQPs 3 and 4 on the basolateral side are not regulated.
ADH causes the insertion of AQP2 into the laminal side via gene transcription
How does ADH regulate aquaporin 2 in the collecting ducts?

- ADH or vasopressin binds to the receptor on the cell
- Activates adenylyl or adenylate cyclase
- ATP is converted to cAMP
- Activates protein kinase A PKa
- Phosphorylates proteins
- Transcription factors are activated
- AQP2 protein is up-regulated
- AQP2 proteins are inserted into the luminal membrane
- Water can move in from the tubular lumen into the cell
- Water then diffuses out of the cell into the interstitial fluid via AQP3 and AQP4

In the absence of ADH, the _______ are almost impermeable to water.
In the absence of ADH, the collecting ducts are almost impermeable to water (not enough AQP2).
= would pee a lot
Absence of ADH leads to ____
Absence of ADH leads to diuresis
What is diabetes insipidus?
Pathological status of diuresis:
- Associated with large quantities of urine
What are the two different causes of diabetes insipidus?
- Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus:
- ADH is secreted in a normal matter from the pituitary but the hormone doesn’t function normally
- problem with the receptor or intracellular signaling pathway
- problem within the cells of the nephron
- ADH is secreted in a normal matter from the pituitary but the hormone doesn’t function normally
- Central diabetes insipidus
- Failure to release ADH from the posterior pituitary
↑ADH → ___ AQP2 → ____ of water
↓ADH → ___ AQP2 → ____ of water
↑ADH → ↑ AQP2 → reabsorption of water
↓ADH → ↓ AQP2 → excretion of water
What do osmoreceptors and thirst receptors sense?
Changes in osmolarity and volume
What happens to osmolarity of plasma during water deprivation?
Water deprivation → ↑osmolarity of plasma → osmoreceptors in the hypothalamus are stimulated → ↑ADH release → retention of water
= antidiuresis - reduction in urine volume
- also stimulates thirst centres in hypothalamus
How does water intake change ADH secretion?
Water intake → lower the osmolarity of plasma → osmoreceptors in the hypothalamus sense a block → ADH release is blocked → large volume of fluid is excreted
- Large water diuresis
When is sodium secreted into the renal tubules?
Sodium is never secreted into the renal tubules
it is excreted:
- Sodium excreted = Sodium filtered - sodium reabsorbed
How are Na+ levels physiologically regulated?
By changing the volume of urine excreted
How is Na+ regulated:
When we have low [Na+] in plasma?
(short term vs long term)
- Short term handling of low levels (Baroreceptors regulate GFR)
- Long-term:
- Aldosterone facilitate Na+ reabsorption
- Renin, angiotensin II needed for aldosterone secretion
What happens if we have high [Na+] in the plasma?
ANP (atrial natriuretic peptide) regulates GFP and inhibits Na+ reabsorption
ANP also woks by inhibiting aldosterone actions
Baroreceptors responds to ____ changes and are used for ________ regulation of low plasma volume (low plasma volume is a reflection of low ____ levels)
Baroreceptors responds to pressure changes and are used for short-term regulation of low plasma volume (low plasma volume is a reflection of low Na+ levels)
- Nerve endings sensitive to stretch (increase/decrease BP)
Where are baroreceptors located?
- Carotid sinus
- Aortic arch
- major veins
- intrarenal (JG cells of JGA)
How do baroreceptors work?
- sense changes in blood volume, peripheral resistance
- increase/decrease in blood pressure causes
- Increase/decrease in stretch
- increase/decrease in nerve impulse frequency
- Increase/decrease in stretch
- Baroreceptor info is processed in the medulla oblongata
- Activation of the ANS
Role of baroreceptors image

Aldosterone is a _____ hormone released from the ________
Aldosterone is a steroid hormone released from the ad__renal cortex
What triggers the release of Aldosterone?
What effect does it have?
Low plasma volume associated with low sodium.
Long-term regulation of Na+ reabsorption
What is the site of action of aldosterone?
Late distal tubule and cortical collecting duct
What is the action of aldosterone?
- Induces synthesis of Na+ transport proteins
- Stimulates Na+ reabsorption
- Reduces Na+ excretion

Na+ reabsorption is linked to ___ secretion
Na+ reabsorption is linked to K+ secretion

What would aldosterone secretion look like in a person with a low sodium diet? high sodium diet?
High Na+ intake = low aldosterone secretion
Low Na+ intake = high aldosterone secretion
_________ acts on the adrenal cortex to control the secretion of aldosterone
Angiotensin II acts on the adrenal cortex to control the secretion of aldosterone

Where is renin secreted from and what is its function?
Renin is secreted from the juxtaglomerular cells of the JGA in the kidney and is an enzyme that converts Angiotensin into Angiotensin I
What converts Angiotensin to Angiotensin I?
Renin
What converts Angiotensin I to Angiotensin II?
ACE (Angiotensin converting enzyme)
How does aldosterone regulate Na+ levels?
See image

What is the most important trigger for the release of aldosterone?
The renin-angiotensin mechanism
initiated in response to:
- sympathetic stimulation of renal nerves
- Decrease in filtrate osmolarity
- Decreased blood pressure
What three things initiate the renin-angiotensin mechanism which triggers release of aldosterone?
- sympathetic stimulation of renal nerves
- Decrease in filtrate osmolarity
- Decreased blood pressure
How is stretch linked to renin release?
Increased stretch (sensed by renal juxtaglomerular cells) = inhibits renin release
Decreased stretch stimulates renin release (low circulating volume)
Where are Juxtaglomerular cells located?
Wall of the afferent arteriole

Juxtaglomerular cells are __________ that sense circulating ________ and secrete _______
Juxtaglomerular cells are mechanoreceptors that sense circulating plasma volume and secrete renin
Juxtaglomerular cells receive three inputs:
- Sympathetic input from external baroreceptors
- Intrarenal baroreceptors
- Signals from macula densa
What is the macula densa?
- Cells on the wall of the distal convoluted tubule
- Chemoreceptors that sense NaCl load of the filtrate
Where is ANP (atrial natriuretic peptide) made?
ANP is synthesized and secreted by cardiac atria
Site of ANP action?
On cells of several tubular segments
- ANP inhibits aldosterone
- Inhibit Na+ reabsorption
- Increases GFR and Na+ excretion
What stimulates ANP secretion?
Atrial natriuretic peptide is triggered by:
- ATRIAL DISTENSION (major)
- increased Na+ concentration
- Increased Blood volume
What are three effects of ANP?
- ANP inhibits aldosterone
- inhibit Na+ reabsorption
- Increases GFR and Na+ excretion
Most of the filtered K+ is reabsorbed in the _________ and ________
Most of the filtered K+ is reabsorbed in the proximal tubule and loop of Henle

_________ can secrete a small amount of K+
Collecting duct can secrete a small amount of K+

Where is the concentration of potassium (K+) in the urine regulated?
[K+] in urine is regulated in the cortical collecting duct
What is hyperkalemia?
Excess K+ in blood
What controls homeostasis of K+ in the body?
Aldosterone secreting cells in the adrenal cortex are sensitive to extracellular [K+]
- Aldosterone stimulates both Na+ reabsorption AND K+ secretion in the cortical duct

What happens if there is an increase in extracellular [K+]?
See image

How is pH related to the concentration of protons
pH = -log[H+]
High [H+] = low pH
Low [H+] = high pH
What is the pH for extracellular fluid?
pH for ECF is maintained between 7.35 and 7.45
Arterial plasma pH < 7.35 = _______
Arterial plasma pH>7.45 = _______
Arterial plasma pH < 7.35 = acidosis
Arterial plasma pH>7.45 = alkalosis
The sensor for low sodium chloride concentration in the blood is _____
The sensor for low sodium chloride concentration in the blood is renin
How does changing pH alter protein activity?
What effects does this have?
- Protein fxn is directly related to protein shape
- altering pH can cause a change in shape thus altering the activity
- Changes in neuronal activity
- Coupled to K+ imbalances
- Irregular cardiac beats
- altering pH can cause a change in shape thus altering the activity
What pH range is fatal in humans?
pH < 6.8 and >7.8 is fatal
What is an acid/base (Arrhenius)
Acid: releases H+ in water
Base: Accepts H+ in water

What does it mean that CO2 is a volatile acid?
What happens to CO2 when mixed with water?
Gas at room temperature (ie can be converted to a gaseous form and eliminated by the lungs)
CO2 + H2O → H2CO3 (carbonic acid)
What are two examples of nonvolatile acids important in this course?
- Phosphoric acid
- Sulfuric acid - produced from metabolism of sulfur-containing AA (cys, met)
Hydrochloric acid is produced from the metabolism of what three amino acid side chains?
- lysine
- arginine
- histidine
Normally, will the combination of CO2 and water generate acids?
No. With certain resp diseases, CO2 can accumulate and form H2CO3 which generates H+
Non-volatile acids are generated from ________ and can generate ___
Non-volatile acids are generated from protein metabolism and can generate H+
What are four ways in which we can gain hydrogen ions?
- Generation of H+ from CO2 (in resp diseases CO2 accumulates → H2CO3 → H+)
- Non-volatile acids (from metabolism of proteins) generate H+
- Gain of H+ from the loss of bicarbonate in diarrhea
- Gain of H+ from the loss of bicarbonate in the urine
What are three ways in which we can lose H+ ions?
- Loss of H+ when vomiting
- Loss of H+ in urines
- Loss of H+ from hyperventilation
What is a buffer?
Compounds that can bind to H+ and form a hydrogen-buffer conjugate
- Buffer + H+ → HBuffer
- Reversible rxn
- Composed of a weak acid and its conjugate base
- modify or adjust the change in pH following the add’n of acids or bases
What are two physiological buffer systems?
(Extracellular vs intracellular)
- Extracellular buffer system is bicarbonate (CO2/HCO3-)
- Intracellular buffers include
- Phosphate ions and associated proteins
- Hemoglobin is an intracellular buffer
- Phosphate ions and associated proteins
How is CO2 converted to bicarbonate?
- CO2 mixes with H2O in the lungs
- Converted to Carbonic acid via Carbonic anhydrase
- Carbonic acid is converted to a proton and bicarbonate
- Bicarbonate is excreted to balance H+ concentration

When respiration rate is not high enough, what happens as blood passes through the peripheral tissues?
Generates H+
______ and _____ are both responsible for balancing H+ concentration within a narrow range
Lungs and kidneys are both responsible for balancing H+ concentration within a narrow range
The respiratory system (Lungs) is responsible for _____ changes in H+
The respiratory system (Lungs) is responsible for short-term (quick) changes in H+
What causes respiratory imbalances?
- Hyperventilation
- Hypoventilation
- Respiratory malfunction
If H+ imbalance is due to non-respiratory causes what happens to ventilation?
If imbalance is due to non-respiratory causes, then ventilation is changed by reflex to adjust the imbalance
- ↑ [H+] stimulates ventilation
- ↓ [H+] inhibits ventilation
The kidneys are responsible for _______ balance of H+ concentration
Long-term
The kidneys are responsible for long-term balance of H+ concentration
When one H+ ions is lost from the body, what happens to bicarbonate?
When one H+ is lost from the body, 1 HCO3- is gained by the body

What is the kidney’s response to alkalosis?
Alkalosis = decrease of plasma [H+]
- kidneys excrete more bicarbonate
- restores acid-base balance
What is the kidney’s response to Acidosis?
Acidosis = increase in plasma [H+]
Kidney cells synthesize new bicarbonate and send it to the blood
Restores acid-base balance
Reabsorption of HCO3- is an ____ process dependent on _____
Reabsorption of HCO3- is an active process dependent on H+ secretion
Under normal conditions, is bicarbonate (HCO3-) reabsorbed or excreted?
Normally, most of the HCO3- is reabsorbed
- occurs in the proximal tubule, ascending loop of Henle, and cortical collecting duct

Where does HCO3- reabsorption occur?
- Proximal tubule
- ascending loop of Henle
- Cortical collecting duct

What happens when more H+ is secreted than there is HCO3- in the lumen to bind to the H+?
- Extra H+ binds to HPO42- (intracellular buffer)
- HCO3- is still generated by tubular cells and diffuses into plasma
- NET gain of HCO3- in plasma

2nd Mechanism for adding HCO3- to the plasma:

- Cells from proximal tubule are only involved
- uptake of glutamine from glomerular filtrate or peritubular plasma
- NH4+ and HCO3- are formed inside the cells
- NH4+ is actively secreted via the Na+?NH4+ counter transport into the lumen
- HCO3- is added to plasma

What is the initial buffer for acidosis? What are two other buffers?
Acidosis: initial buffer = bicarbonate
Then phosphate and then glutamine metabolism
What are two reasons that acidosis and alkalosis can happen?
- Respiratory (Hypoventilation or hyperventilation)
- Metabolic
How does respiratory acidosis occur?
How does the kidney respond?
- Result of decreased ventilation
- Increased blood PCO2
- Occurs in emphysema
- Kidney compensates by secreting H+ and lowers plasma [H+]
How does respiratory alkalosis occur?
How does the kidney respond?
- Result of hyperventilation
- Decreased blood PCO2
- Happens in high altitude
- Kidney compensates by excreting HCO3-
How does metabolic acidosis occur?
- Occurs in diarrhea (loss of bicarbonate ions)
- Severe exercise
- Diabetes mellitus
- Results in increased ventilation
- results in increased H+ secretion
- Results in increased ventilation
How does metabolic alkalosis occur?
- Occurs after prolonged vomiting
- Results in decreased ventilation
- Increased HCO3- excretion
- Results in decreased ventilation