Unit 10: Kidney, Liver, & Endocrine Flashcards
Describe the anatomy of the renal cortex and medulla
Renal Cortex = Outer part of the kidney
-contains most parts of the nephron (glomerulus, Bowman’s capsule, proximal tubules, and distal tubules)
Renal Medulla = Inner part of the kidney
-contains parts of the nephron not in the renal cortex (loops of Henle and collecting ducts)
-divided into pyramids
-APEX of each pyramid is called the papilla (contains lots of collecting ducts)
-papilla drains urine into the minor calyxes
-multiple minor calyces converge to form the major calyxes which converge to form the renal pelvic which empties urine into the ureter
-calyces, pelvis, and ureters have the capability to contract to push urine towards the bladder
What is the nephron? Describe its anatomy
The functional unit in the kidney
What two hormones govern how the kidney regulates the volume and composition of the extracellular fluid?
Aldosterone: controls ECF volume – sodium and water are reabsorbed together
Antidiuretic Hormone (Vasopressin): controls plasma osmolarity – water is reabsorbed, but sodium is not
*Both act in the distal tubule and collecting duct
*kidneys also regulate potassium, chloride, phosphate, magnesium, hydrogen, bicarb, glucose, and urea
How do the kidneys help to regulate blood pressure? What other systems also contribute to BP regulation?
Long term BP control is carried out by the thirst mechanism (intake) and sodium/water excretion (output)
Intermediate BP control is carried out by the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
Short term BP control is carried out by the baroreceptor reflex
How does the kidney eliminate toxins and metabolites?
Glomerular filtration and tubular secretion
-like the liver the kidney is capable of phase I and II biotransformation
What two organs contribute to acid-base balance?
Lungs: excrete volatile acids (CO2)
Kidneys: excrete non-volatile acids – maintain acid-base balance by titrating hydrogen in the tubular fluid, which creates acidic or basic urine
What stimulates the kidney to release erythropoietin? What does EPO do after it is released?
Released in response to inadequate O2 delivery to the kidney
-examples includes: anemia, reduced intravascular volume, and hypoxia (high altitude, cardiac and/or pulmonary failure)
-EPO stimulates stem cells in the bone marrow to produce erythrocytes
-Severe kidney disease reduces EPO production and leads to chronic anemia
What is calcitriol and what does it do?
Calciferol –> synthesized from ingested vitamin D or following exposure to ultraviolet light
- converted to 25 [OH] vitamin D3 (inactive D3) in the liver
- 25 [OH] vitamin D3 is converted to calcitriol (1,25 [OH]2 Vitamin D3 - active form) in the kidney
Calcitriol stimulates:
- the intestine to absorb Ca2+ from food
- the bone to store Ca2+
- the kidney to reabsorb Ca2+ and phosphate
How much blood flow do the kidneys receive (% of CO and total flow)?
20-25% of the CO (1000 - 1250 mL/min)
Describe the blood flow through the kidney starting with the renal artery
- Renal Artery
- Renal Segmental Artery
- Interlobar Artery
- Arcuate Artery
- Interlobular Artery
- Afferent Arterioles
- Glomerular Capillary Bed –> filtration
- Efferent Arterioles
- Peritubular Capillary Bed –> reabsorption and secretion
- Venules
- Interlobular Vein
- Arcuate Vein
- Interlobar Vein
- Renal Segmental Vein
- Renal Vein
What is the significance of renal autoregulation?
Purpose is to ensure a constant amount of blood flow is delivered to the kidneys over a wide range of arterial blood pressures
GFR becomes pressure-dependent when MAP is outside the range of autoregulation (50-180)
- when renal perfusion is too low –> renal blood flow is increased by reducing renal vascular resistance
- when renal perfusion is too high –> renal blood flow is reduced by increasing renal vascular resistance
What is the myogenic mechanism of renal autoregulation?
If renal artery pressure is elevated the myogenic mechanism constricts the afferent arteriole to protect the glomerulus from excessive pressure
If renal artery pressure is too low the myogenic mechanism dilates the afferent arteriole to increase blood flow going to the nephron
How does tubuloglomerular feedback affect renal autoregulation?
Juxtaglomerular apparatus is located in the distal tubule (region that passes between the afferent and efferent arterioles)
Tubuloglomerular feedback about the sodium and chloride composition in the distal tubule affects arteriolar tone – creates a negative feedback loop to maintain renal blood flow
How does the surgical stress response affect renal blood flow?
It induces a transient state of vasoconstriction and sodium retention –> this persists for several days resulting in oliguria and edema
Vasoconstriction of the renal vasculature during this time predisposes the kidneys to ischemic injury and nephrotoxicity from drugs administered during the perioperative period
What are the steps involved in the renin angiotensin aldosterone pathway?
What three conditions increase renin release? Give examples of each
- Decreased Renal Perfusion Pressure: hemorrhage, PEEP, CHF, Liver failure w/ ascites, Sepsis, Diuresis
- SNS Activation (Beta-1): Circulating catecholamines, Exogenous catecholamines
- Tubuloglomerular Feedback: Decreased sodium and chloride in distal tubule
Where is aldosterone produced? What is its function?
Produced in the zona glomerulosa of the adrenal gland
By stimulating the Na/K-ATPase in the principal cells of the distal tubules and collecting ducts, aldosterone causes:
- sodium reabsorption
- water reabsorption
- potassium excretion
- hydrogen excretion
Net effect is aldosterone increases blood volume but it does NOT affect osmolarity (water follows the sodium in direct proportion)
Where is antidiuretic hormone produced? What is its function?
Produced in the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus
It is released from the posterior pituitary gland in response to:
- increased osmolarity of the ECF
- decreased blood volume
ADH increased BP by:
- increased blood volume from V2 receptor stimulation in the collecting ducts (increased cAMP)
- increased SVR from V1 receptor stimulation in the vasculature (increased IP3, DAG, Ca2+)
What clinical situations increase ADH release?
-PEEP
-Positive-pressure ventilation
-Hypotension
-Hemorrhage
*anesthetic agents do not directly affect ADH homeostasis – impact arterial BP and venous blood volume thus increase ADH release
What three mechanisms promote renal vasodilation?
-Prostaglandins (inhibited by NSAIDs)
-Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (increased RAP –> Na+ and water excretion)
-Dopamine 1 receptor stimulation (increased RBF)
Where are dopamine-1 and dopamine-2 receptors located? What is each of their functions?
Dopamine-1:
-located in renal vasculature and tubules
-2nd messenger is increased cAMP
-function = vasodilation, increased RBF, increased GFR, diuresis, and sodium excretion
Dopamine-2:
-located in presynaptic SNS nerve terminal
-2nd messenger is decreased cAMP
-function = decreased norepinephrine release
What is the mechanism of action of fenoldapam? Why is it used?
Selective dopamine-1 receptor agonist that increases renal blood flow
-low dose fenoldopam (0.1-0.2 mcg/kg/min) is a renal vasodilator and increases RBF, GFR, and facilitates Na excretion without affecting arterial blood pressure
-may offer renal protection during aortic surgery and during cardiopulmonary bypass
How much of the renal blood flow is filtered at the glomerulus? Where does the rest go?
Renal Blood Flow = 1000 - 1250 mL/min
GFR = 125 mL/min or ~20% of RBF
*20% of RBF is filtered by the glomerulus and 80% is delivered to the peritubular capillaries
What are the three determinants for glomerular hydrostatic pressure?
- Arterial blood pressure
- Afferent arteriole resistance
- Efferent arteriole resistance
*glomerular hydrostatic pressure = most important determinant of GFR