Renal Physiology Review Flashcards
Physiologic Functions of Kidneys
Regulation of water and electrolyte balances
Regulation of body fluid osmolality
Regulation of acid-base balance (H+ concentration)
Regulation of arterial blood pressure
Elimination of metabolic wastes & foreign chemicals
Production of hormones: erythropoietin, vitamin D, renin
Degradation of peptide hormones
Synthesis of ammonia, prostaglandins, kinins, glucose
Production of ultrafiltrate of blood plasma
Ultrafiltrate is modified in uriniferous tubule (tubular parenchyma of kidney)
End product is urine: moved through ureters by peristalsis, stored in bladder, emptied via urethra
Erythropoietin
EPO, a glycoprotein hormone
Synthesized and secreted by endothelial cells of the peritubular capillaries in cortex
Acts on erythrocyte progenitor cells in the bone marrow
Regulates red blood cell formation in response to decreased blood oxygen concentration
Renin
an acid protease
Synthesized and secreted by juxtaglomerular cells
Cleaves circulating angiotensinogen to make angiotensin I
Controls blood pressure and volume
Vitamin D3
A precursor form of Vitamin D3 is hydroxylated in the proximal tubules of the kidney
The active form created via hydroxylation is called calcitriol
Waste Products Eliminated by the Kidneys
Urea (metabolism of amino acids) -- (Azotemia= high nitrogen products in the blood) Creatinine (from muscle creatine) Uric acid (from nucleic acids) End products of Hb breakdown (bilirubin) Metabolites of various hormones Drug metabolites (anions and cations)
Two parts of the nephron
- Renal corpuscle
- Bowman’s capsule (double-layered epithelial cup)
- Glomerulus (10-20 capillary loops) - Tubule system
- Proximal convoluted and straight tubule
- Thin descending and ascending limbs of the loop of Henle
- Distal straight (thick ascending limb) tubule
- Distal convoluted tubule
Types of Nephrons
- Cortical
- Short loops of Henle
- Surrounded by peritubular
capillaries - Juxtamedullary
- Long loops of Henle
- Long efferent arterioles are divided into specialized peritubular capillaries (vasa recta)
* * Function is to concentrate urine
Body water distribution for a 70 kg individual
.6 x body weight is total body water = 42 L
.2 x body weight is ECF (14 L)
.4x body weight is ICF (28 L)
Interstitial fluid is 3/4 of ECF (10.5 L)
Plasma is the other 1/4 (3.5 L)
Of the plasma, venous is 80%, Arterial is 20%.
Arterial = Effective Circulating Volume
Third space
Transcellular fluid is also included in the ECF. It normally contains only a small amount of water (1-2 L) such as epithelial secretions, synovial, peritoneal, pericardial, intraocular, CSF.
It is said to occupy a “third space”- i.e., “3”
ECF fluid compartments.
Donnan Effect
more Na+ in the plasma than in the interstitial fluid
the greater amount of (-) proteins pulls more cations into the plasma.
Movement of Water
The capillary cell membrane (barrier between ECF compartments) is highly permeable to both water * and small ions
Fluid distribution is due to balance between hydrostatic pressure and colloid osmotic pressure (Starling Forces)
The cell membrane (barrier between ECF and ICF) is highly water-permeable
Not permeable to most electrolytes
Fluid distribution between two compartments is dependent on osmotic effects (Na+, Cl-, K+, HCO3-)
Fluid Shifts - Osmotic Equilibration
Maintenance of body fluid balance is regulated by two factors:
ECF Volume
ECF Osmolarity – this controls ICF volume since water enters/leaves ECF rapidly to balance the osmolarity between ECF and ICF compartments
“Osmotic Equilibration”
Movement of water across cell membranes from higher to lower concentration as a result of an osmotic pressure difference (difference in number of solute particles in solution) across the membrane
Osmotic pressure exerted across a membrane by a solute is due to the membrane being impermeable to that solute
What happens when you withdraw 3 liters pure HxO from ECF?
osmotic gradient is created
H2O rapidly diffuses from ICF to ECF to re-establish osmotic equilibrium. Note that there are proportional changes in each compartment’s volume.
Edema
Palpable swelling produced by expansion of interstitial fluid volume. Caused by:
- Alteration in capillary hemodynamics (altered Starling forces with increased net filtration pressure) - fluid moves from vascular space into the interstitium
- Renal retention of dietary Na+ & H2O, expansion of ECF volume
- Lymph blockage
Osmoreceptors
located in the anterior hypothalamus
Increase discharge rate in response to a 1% rise in CSF osmolarity and send signals to the “thirst” center
Results in sensation of thirst and release of anti-diuretic hormone (ADH)
Volume receptors
located in the right atrium
Increase discharge rate in response to increased blood volume and send signals via the vagus nerve to the medulla
These afferent signals inhibit the pressor area of the vasomotor center, thereby suppressing sympathetic discharge
These afferents also reach the hypothalamus to inhibit thirst and ADH secretion
During volume decrease, this pathway may stimulate thirst and ADH, but volume must drop >10% (less sensitive than osmoreceptors)
Antidiuretic hormone (ADH/AVP)
Secreted by the hypothalamus and released by the posterior pituitary
Stimulated by input from osmoreceptors and volume receptors
Promotes water reabsorption from distal convoluted tubule and collecting ducts
Aldosterone
Secretion is stimulated by circulating Angiotensin II (as a result of sympathetic activation), rise in plasma K+, fall in plasma Na+
Promotes reabsorption of Na+ from DCT and secretion of K+
Atrial natriuretic peptide
Released by cells in the atria in response to increased volume (stretch) to promote sodium excretion in the kidney
Thirst
The most prompt and effective mechanism in place for correcting an increase in osmolarity
Thirst center is located in hypothalamus
Stimulated by osmoreceptors and Ang II, inhibited by impulses from volume receptors
Salt craving
Evoked by a drop in plasma Na+ concentration, likely sensed in the amygdala
Sympathetic discharge
Hypovolemia leads to decreased discharge of atrial receptors, resulting in less excretion of Na+ and H2O; may stimulate ADH and thirst as well if volume drops significantly
Renal Blood Flow (RBF)
At rest, kidneys receive ~20% of cardiac output (called the renal fraction).
*** High pressure in glomerular capillaries (≈ 60 mmHg) causes filtration of blood.
1100-1300 ml filtered/min which produces 125-130 ml of fluid (glomerular filtrate).
*** Low pressure in the peritubular capillaries (≈ 13 mmHg) permits fluid reabsorption.
Pressure in both capillary beds can be regulated by resistance changes in afferent and efferent arterioles.
Renal vascular supply (name the vessels)
aorta–> renal artery–> segmental arteries–> interlobar arteries–> arcuate arteries–> interlobular arteries–> afferent arterioles–> glomerulus-> efferent arteriols–> vasa recta or peritubular capillaries–> (interlobular veins, if from peritubular capillaries)–> arcuate veins–> interlobar veins–> segmental veins–> renal veins-> inferior vena cava
Organize the following by filtration/ reabsorption:
- Creatinine
- Na, Cl
- Amino acids, glucose
- organic acids and bases
Filtration only: creatinine
filtration and partial reabsorption: Na, Cl
Filtration and complete reabsorption: amino acids and glucose
Filtration and secretion: organic acids and bases
Forces Affecting GFR
GFR is remarkably high (c. 125 ml/min, 180 l/day)
GFR is the product of 3 physical factors:
Hydraulic conductivity (Lp) of glomerular membrane (permeability or porosity of capillary wall)
Surface area available for filtration (c. 2 m2)
Capillary ultrafiltration pressure (PUF)
Note: Product of 1 and 2 is ultrafiltration coefficient Kf
GFR = Kf · PUF
Ultrafiltration Pressure: Driving Force for Glomerular Filtration
PUF is determined by hydrostatic and colloid osmotic pressures in the glomerular capillaries and in Bowman’s capsule:
PUF = (PGC + piBC) - (PBC + piGC)
piBC ~ 0, so
PUF = PGC - (PBC + piGC)
Mechanisms for Altering GFR: Altered Kf
things that change surface area or conductivity
Contraction of mesangial cells (by renal sympathetic nerve activation, Ang II) shortens capillary loops, lowers Kf and, thus lowers GFR.
Some disease states can cause this as well
Mechanisms for Altering GFR: Altered PUF
things that change PGC
Renal arterial blood pressure
Afferent arteriolar resistance
Efferent arteriolar resistance
With slight increases in resistance, GFR will increase.
With significant increases in resistance, GFR will decrease.
PGC
- In normal individuals, GFR is primarily regulated by alterations in PGC
- PGC is determined by changes systemic arterial pressure (PA), afferent arteriolar resistance (RA), efferent arteriolar resistance (RE)