Urinary Flashcards
(208 cards)
Where are the kidneys located?
Retroperitoneal, T12-L3, right kidney slightly lower than left due to liver
Describe the path of the ureters.
Arise from the renal pelvis and descend in front of psoas major muscle. Cross pelvic brim near burfication of iliac arteries (anterior to common iliac), and underneath the uterine artery/ ductus deferens (water under the bridge). Enter the bladder posteriorly.
Where are common sites for renal stones to form?
Uretopelvic junction
Bifurcation of iliac arteries
Where they enter the bladder
Which is longer:
left or right renal vein?
left or right renal artery?
Left renal vein is longer (crosses anterior to AA)
Right renal artery is longer (crosses posterior to IVC)
Describe the arterial supply of the kidneys.
Renal artery -> segmental artery -> interlobar artery -> arcuate artery -> interlobular artery -> afferent arteriole -> efferent arteriole
How is a high filtration pressure created in the glomerulus?
Afferent arteriole has a wider diameter than the efferent arteriole.
How does the PCT appear histologically?
Brush border, simple cuboidal epithelium
How does the thin part of the Loop of Henle appear histologically?
Simple squamous epithelium with no brush border
How does the thick ascending limb appear histologically?
Simple cuboidal epithelium, no brush border
How does the DCT & collecting duct appear histologically?
Wider lumen, many mitochondria, no brush border
How is protein movement repelled in ultrafiltration?
Basement membrane and podocytes contain negatively charged glycoproteins
What are the 3 forces involved in plasma filtration?
Hydrostatic force in glomerular capillary (pushes fluid out into Bowman’s capsule)
Hydrostatic force of fluid in Bowman’s space (to push fluid back into glomerular capillary)
Plasma oncotic force in glomerular capillary pulling fluid in from the Bowman’s space
In auto regulation, what is the myogenic response to maintain GFR during:
increased arterial BP
reduced arterial BP
If increased BP, GFR needs to lower so AA constricts
If decreased BP, GFR needs to increase so AA dilates
In tubular glomerular feedback, what is the role of adenosine and prostaglandins?
Adenosine reduces GFR if NaCl increased. It will vasoconstrict afferent/ vasodilates efferent arteriole.
Prostaglandins increases GFR if NaCl decreases. It vasodilates afferent arteriole.
Why is reabsorption isotonic in the PCT?
As water leaves when solutes are reabsorbed hence no change in osmolarity.
How is Na reabsorbed in the PCT?
On apical membrane is cotransported with AA, glucose (or with Na/H anti porter) down its concentration gradient established by Na/K-ATPase on basolateral membrane.
In the PCT, via what channel is Na reabsorbed with glucose?
SGLUT on apical membrane. As this is against glucose concentration gradient and 100% of glucose should be rebabsorbed, glucose diffuses back out via basolateral membrane
What is normal GFR approximately?
100ml/min
What substances can be used to measure GFR?
Inulin (gold standard) or creatinine, as neither are secreted or metabolised by the body so will pass directly into the urine.
What is the equation for clearance?
Clearance = (amount in urine x urine flow rate) / plasma concentration
How does a high volume of distribution affect renal clearance?
High Vd indicates molecule/ drug is lipophilic so can leave plasma. This reduces the amount available in the plasma for excretion by the kidneys.
How does a low volume of distribution affect renal clearance?
Low Vd indicates molecule is hydrophilic so highly confined to plasma, hence more of the drug molecule is available in the plasma for excretion by the kidneys.
How much Na is filtered out of the descending limb of the loop of Henle?
None.
Only water moves out here.
If renal artery BP increases, how does this affect Na and H2O transport in the proximal tubule?
Reduced activity of Na channels and Na/K-ATPase, so less Na reabsorbed and hence less water reabsorbed. Promotes excretion of Na and H2O so ECF volume decreases to diminish BP rise.