Renal Transport Mechanisms Flashcards
What is tubular reabsorption?
The transfer of materials from kidney tubule lumen to peritubular capillaries
What are the three conclusions to glomerular filtration and tubular reabsorption?
- The filtered loads are enormous, generally greater than the total amounts of substances in the body
- Reabsorption of waste products is relatively incomplete
- Reabsorption of most useful plasma components, is relatively complete
Why would the reabsorption of waste products be relatively incomplete?
So that large fraction of their filtered loads are excreted in the urine, for instance, urea
Why would the reabsorption of useful plasma components be relatively complete?
Amounts excreted in the urine are a very small fraction of their filtered load
What is an example of substance whose filtered load is greater than the total amount of substance in the body?
The body usually contains about 40L of water, but the volume of water filtered each day is about 180L
What are the useful components of the plasma that are relatively completely reabsorbed?
Water
Inorganic ions
Organic nutrients
What is the % of water reabsorbed daily?
99%
What is the % of sodium reabsorbed daily?
99.5%
What is the % of glucose reabsorbed daily?
100%
What is the % of urea reabsorbed daily and why?
44%, urea in the body helps with certain functions
What is an important difference between reabsorptive processes?
Certain can be controlled physiologically, and certain cannot
What is the reabsorption rate of most organic nutrients?
Very high and not physiologically regulated
What happens to the filtered loads of most organic nutrients in healthy kidneys?
Completely reabsorbed with none appearing in the urine
Can the kidneys regulate the plasma concentration of organic nutrients?
No, the kidneys do not regulate the plasma concentration of those substances, they maintain them
What is one of the main functions of the kidneys in regard to reabsorption?
Eliminate soluble waste products
How are soluble waste products eliminated in the kidneys?
The blood is filtered in the glomeruli
What is one of the main consequences when it comes to filtering the blood in the glomerulus?
SUbstances necessary for normal body functions are filtered from the plasma into the tubular fluid
What is the compensatory mechanism of filtration of blood?
Reabsorption of useful substances from the tubular fluid while allowing waste products to be excreted
What is the reabsorptive rate of water and ions like?
Very high and under physiological control
What is the compensatory mechanism of the kidneys when the water intake is decreased?
The kidneys increase reabsorption to minimize water loss, it all depends on the body’s needs
What are the two processes involved with tubular reabsoprtion?
Diffusion
Mediated transport
Where are substances reabsorbed by diffusion?
From the tubular lumen into the peritubular capillaries
When does tubular reabsorption begin?
As soon as the filtrate enters the tubule cells
What is paracellular transport?
It occurs between cells (tight junctions) and is seen mainly with ions
What is transcellular transport?
Moves across the cell itself, no involvement of tight junctions
What can transport be like?
Active (against the concentration gradient) with the use of ATP or passive (with the concentration gradient) with no ATP