(uro-renal) renal regulation of water & acid-base balance Flashcards
what is osmolarity?
the concentration of osmotically active particles in solution
(quantitatively expressed is osmoles of solute per litre of solution)
what is the equation for osmolarity?
concentration x no. of dissociated particles
Osm/L OR mOsm/L
what are the units of osmolarity?
Osm/L OR mOsm/L
calculate the osmolarity for 100 mmol/L glucose and 100mmol/L NaCl
osmolarity for glucose
= 100 x 1 = 100 mOsm/L
(one dissociated particle)
calculate the osmolarity for 100mmol/L of NaCl
osmolarity for NaCl
= 100 x 2 = 200 mOsm/L
(two dissociated particles)
what is the driving force for osmosis?
oncotic pressure/osmotic pressure
what does the osmotic/oncotic pressure depend on?
directly proportional tot he number of solute particles
what is the total fluid volume?
approx 60% of body weight
describe the distribution of body fluid
2/3 = intracellular 1/3 = extracellular
of the extracellular fluid
- 1/4 = intravascular (plasma)
- 3/4 = extravascular
of the extravascular
- 95% = interstitial fluid
- 5% = transcellular fluid
give an example of an intravascular fluid
plasma
give an example of an extravascular fluid
interstitial fluid
transcellular fluid (peritoneal fluid, CSF)
what are transcellular fluids?
fluid that fills up the spaces of chambers that are formed from the linings of epithelial cells
(CSF, peritoneal fluid)
what separates intracellular fluid from extracellular fluid?
cell membranes
water loss can either be regulated or unregulated - what are the four forms of unregulated water loss?
sweat
faeces
vomiting
evaporation from respiratory lining/skin
water loss can either be regulated or unregulated - what is the one form of regulated water loss?
renal urine production
what is positive water balance?
amount of water in the body is higher than what is required
what is negative water balance?
amount of water in the body is less than what is required
how do the kidneys respond to a positive water balance?
high water intake causes a positive water balance
= increased ECF volume = reduced sodium concentration = reduced plasma osmolarity = production of hypo-osmolar urine = osmolarity normalises as excess water is lost when the hypo-osmolar urine is excreted
how do the kidneys respond to a negative water balance?
low water intake causes a negative water balance
= reduced ECF volume = increased sodium concentration = increased plasma osmolarity = production of hyperosmolar urine = osmolarity normalises as as much water as possible is retained (+ more water is drank) when the hyperosmolar urine is excreted
besides hyper-osmotic urine production, what else causes the osmolarity to normalise in a negative water balance?
increased water intake due to thirst
+ combined w hyperosmolar urine production = normalises osmolarity
what is the structural functional unit of a kidney?
nephron
how much water is reabsorbed in the PCT?
67%
how much water is reabsorbed in the thin descending limb of the loop of Henle?
15%
what process does water reabsorption in the loop of Henle rely on?
osmosis (therefore, requires an osmotic gradient)
where in the loop of Henle can water be reabsorbed?
thin descending limb
but defo not in the thick ascending limb
where in the loop of Henle can salts (Na+, Cl-) be reabsorbed?
thick ascending limb
but defo not in the thin descending limb
what is an essential requirement for water reabsorption from the loop of Henle?
hyper-osmotic medullary interstitium
to created the osmotic gradient required for water reabsorption form the LOH and the collecting duct
explain the process by which water is reabsorbed from the loop of Henle
sodium and chloride are reabsorbed both actively and passively reabsorbed din the thick ascending limb
produce a hyperosmotic medullary interstitium
water follows osmotic gradient into the medullary interstitium (from the thin descending limb tubular cells via aquaporin channels)
how much water is reabsorbed in the collecting duct?
variable amounts
why is the amount of water reabsorbed in the collecting duct variable?
depends on vasopressin action which determines the number of aquaporin channels embedded in the tubular cell membranes to facilitate water reabsorption
explain the process of countercurrent multiplication in the loop of Henle
active salt reabsorption in the thick ascending limb causes the medullary interstitium to become hyperosmotic (reducing tubular fluid osmolarity)
water follows into the medullary interstitium from the thin descending limb due to the osmotic gradient (increasing tubular fluid osmolarity)
why is countercurrent multiplication called so?
countercurrent = fluid movement in opposite directions in the ascending and descending limbs
multiplication = process continues to repeat itself
what is the minimum, maximum and range of osmolarities in the loop of Henle?
minimum = 300 maximum = 1200 (at tip of LOH)
= range due to repeated countercurrent multiplication cycles)
describe the osmolarity of the medullary interstitium as you do down the nephron
from the other medulla to the inner medullar
= becomes more hyperosmolar
what is the vasa recta?
series of blood vessels surrounding the loop of Henle in the renal medullary region
(responsible for oxygen and nutrient transport)
what are UT-A1 transporters?
urea transporters found on the apical membranes of the tubular cells in the collecting duct
what are UT-A3 transporters?
urea transporters found on the basolateral membranes of the tubular cells in the collecting duct
explain how urea recycling occurs in the nephron
urea take up into tubular cells from tubular fluid via UT-A1 transporters
urea transported into medullary interstitium via the UT-A3 transporters (increasing interstitial osmolarity)
then either
1) urea transported into the vas recta via UT-B1 transporters
2) urea transported back into the tubular fluid via UT-A2 transporters in the thin descending limb
where does the urea go after the medullary interstitium?
then either
1) urea transported into the vas recta via UT-B1 transporters
2) urea transported back into the tubular fluid via UT-A2 transporters in the thin descending limb
what is the maximum possible concentration of urea in the medullary interstitum?
600 mmol/L
what are UT-B1 receptors?
urea transporters found on the vasa recta
what are UT-A2 receptors?
urea transporters found on the thin descending limb of the loop of Henle
what is the purpose of urea recycling?
to increase medullary interstitium osmolarity for
1) urine concentration
2) because urea excretion requires less water (so less water loss)
differentiate between the vasa recta and the peritubular capillaries
both have the same function of nutrient transport
- peritubular capillaries originate from the efferent arteriole and surround the renal cortex region mainly
- vasa recta are specialised peritubular capillaries that supply the renal medulla
how does vasopressin affect urea recycling?
vaspressin increases UT-A1 and UT-A3 numbers so increases urea uptake into the medullary interstitium
= making it more hyper-osmotic
how many amino acids make up vasopressin?
nine
what is the main function of vasopressin?
concentrates the urine by increasing water reabsorption from the collecting duct
where is ADH produced?
hypothalamic magnocellular neurones in the supraoptic and paraventricular nucleus
where is ADH stored?
posterior pituitary gland
what is the normal plasma osmolality in a healthy adult?
275-290 mOsm/kg H2O
how is the fluctuation in osmolality detected?
osmoreceptors in the hypothalamus
what change in osmolality is required for detection by osmoreceptors?
approx 5-10%
which factors stimulate ADH production?
increased plasma osmolality
hypovolemia (decreased blood pressure)
nausea
angiotensin II
nicotine
which factors inhibit ADH production?
decrease plasma osmolality
hypervolemia (increased blood pressure)
ethanol
ANP (atrial natriuretic peptide)
which receptor does ADH act on in the collecting duct?
V2 receptor on the basolateral membrane of the tubular cells