Unit 4: Renal Physio Flashcards
the functional unit of the urinary system is the :
nephron within the kidney
Bilirubin buildup in the blood leads to:
jaundice
Each kidney is composed of around ____________ microscopic tubules called nephrons
1 -1.25 million
Define “interstitial fluid,” “plasma,” and “urine”.
[“3 zones of body fluids”]
Interstitial fluid- surrounds all body cells; makes up extracellular fluid; interacts w/ cytoplasm
Plasma- within blood; also makes up other part of extracellular fluid
Urine (waste)- waste material that is secreted by the kidney
Describe the different routes of water intake and water loss
3 major inputs:
60% fluids (drink)
30% moisture in food
10% metabolic water (associated w/ cell metabolism)
2 categories of outputs:
1. Sensible water loss- notice/aware of this
~sweating (10%/ variable) & urine (60%)
2. Insensible = 30%
~respiration, feces, diffusion from skin moisture
Describe the regulatory mechanisms regulating water intake.
1-2% increase in osmolarity stimulates osmoreceptors (hypothalamus- thirst center)
[primary pathway, important bc only takes a small stimulus to activate this pathway]
10% decrease in plasma volume > baroreceptors (hypothalamus- thirst center)
= thirst
Osmoreceptors also stimulate pituitary gland > produces ADH hormone> increases water reabsorption> decreased water in urine
Baroreceptors also stimulate adrenal gland > produces ALD > decreases water content in urine by increasing sodium reabsorption
Describe the anatomical association between the renal blood vessels and the renal tubules
(nephron).
The kidneys get blood through renal arteries.
Inside the kidneys, this blood goes through tiny filters called glomeruli, where the filtrate is separated.
Filtrate then travels through small tubes in the kidneys called renal tubules.
Around these tubes are tiny blood vessels that help bring back the useful things from the filtrate into the blood.
blood vessels and tubules in the kidneys work together to clean and recycle our blood
Name and describe the three nephron processes of urine production.
+ 1 more (?)
Filtration- moving of molecules from blood into the nephron [driven by filtration pressure]
Reabsorption- molecules removed from blood by filtration are put back into blood
Secretion- hydrogen/potassium molecules moved from the bloodstream to the nephron
Excretion- waste like excess water, salts, acids removed
Describe the role of the renal corpuscle.
~filtration takes place here
~contains 3 filtration barriers
What is glomerular filtration?
GFR glomerular filtration rate is the volume of fluid that filters into bowman’s capsule per unit time
average GFR is 125 ml/min or 180 L/day
How is glomerular filtration controlled?
autoregulation
sympathetic NS influence
hormonal regulation
(ALD, ANG, ADH…)
Describe the role of the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT).
60-75% of reabsorption
some secretion
~consequence of active membrane transport/ reabsorption
Describe the mechanism associated with sodium, glucose, and water reabsorption in the PCT.
Sodium reabsorption is driven by sodium potassium pump; Na is being pumped out into bloodstream > Na conc inside cell decreases (osmotic gradient pulls Na into cell from filtrate)
Na movement is needed for glucose movement; glucose moves along with the Na; moved by secondary active transport; eventually goes through a facilitative transporter > bloodstream
Define “renal threshold.”
What characterizes molecules that exhibit a renal threshold?
the amount that can be reabsorbed at maximum
[not measuring the amount being transported, but the amount in the renal tubule]
~glucose transport
Describe the two general functions of the loop of Henle.
How much filtrate enters and leaves the loop of Henle?
reabsorption of ions in excess of water to create dilute fluid in the lumen
countercurrent arrangements contribute to concentrated interstitial fluid in the renal medulla
Describe the function of the descending limb of the loop of Henle.
highly permeable; water reabsorption
Towards higher osmotic conc; salts enter blood; water leaves
Describe the function of the ascending limb of the loop of Henle.
permeable to IONS
away from higher osmotic conc; salts leave blood; water enters
What single factor distinguishes the distal convoluted tubule (DCT) and collecting ducts from all other regions of the nephron?
The only regions of the nephron where reabsorption is regulated by hormones
Describe the regulatory mechanisms that control the DCT and collecting duct.
ALD regulation
ADH regulation
Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS):
Describe the three general mechanisms for regulating blood pH.
Buffers (like bicarbonate)
Respiratory regulation - increasing resp rate increases the removal of Co2> lost Co2 will be pulled away from carbonic acid> pH lowered
Renal conservation of bicarbonate [saves bicarbonate so don’t lose this important buffer through urination]
Renal secretion of H+ [hydrogen ions transported out of cell in exchange of sodium ions]
Describe the mechanism and significance of intrinsic control over glomerular filtration.
At high blood pressure, autoregulation protects the glomerulus from damage
At lower blood pressure, it ensures that the kidneys receive sufficient blood flow to filter wastes.
Describe the role of the autonomic nervous system in regulating urine production.
Sympathetic nerve activity increases
>
Vasoconstriction of afferent arterioles in kidneys
>
decline of GFR
>
decline in urine production
[preserves blood volume]
Describe the source of antidiuretic hormone (ADH).
hypothalamus - posterior pituitary
Describe the stimuli that trigger ADH secretion (or inhibit secretion).
Trigger ADH secretion: increased stimulation of osmoreceptors (in hypothalamus)
Low water intake> Dehydrated>
1-2% increase in plasma osmolarity>
increased stimulation of osmoreceptors (in hypothalamus)>
Posterior pituitary is stimulated to increase ADH production
Inhibit ADH secretion: decreased stimulation of osmoreceptors
High water intake/ overhydrated>
1-2% decrease in plasma osmolarity>
decreased stimulation of osmoreceptors (in hypothalamus)>
Posterior pituitary is less stimulated, so produces less ADH