Week 12 - Kidneys Flashcards
Functions of the kidneys (4)
Control volume and composition of body fluids Get rid of waste Acid-base balance Endocrine functions - EPO, renin, vitamin D
Composition of glomerular fluid
Like plasma EXCEPT no cells and very little protein
Urine output indicating renal failure
Below 5mL a day (normal is 1.5L)
Importance/role of long loop of henle (in juxta-medullary nephron)
Concentrates / dilates urine Countercurrent created by movement of Na into interstitial space in ascending, corresponding movement of water in descending Vasa recta taking reabsorbed urea and H2O away
Outline reabsorption in PCT - how much is reabsorbed here? By what mechanisms do things move from lumen into cell? By what mechanisms do they move into the blood?
65-70% reabsorbed here Generally, passive transport INTO cell (Na/CL symport, H2O osmosis and diffusion of glucose and amino acids) INTO cell, and then Na moved into blood through Na/K ATP pump (K moves back into cell)
Role of thin descending loop of Henle
Very permeable to water 20% of filtered water reabsorbed here
Role of thin and thick ascending loop of Henle
Virtually impermeable to water, actively reabsorbs Na Site of action of loop diuretics
Describe countercurrent multiplication in loop of Henle
Salts pulled out from ascending loop, this creates a higher salt concentration in medulla which pulls water out of descending loop
Define hyperosmotic, hypoosmotic, isosmotic
Hyperosmotic - outside of cell is more concentrated than inside Hypoosmotic - outside of cell is less concentrated than inside Isoosmotic - outside / inside equal Takes into account both impermeable and impermeable solutes
Describe blood flow in vasa recta
Flow in Vr should be LOW - 5% of renal blood flow to minimise solute loss
Functions of DCT
Solute reabsorption (without water) High Na, K ATP-ase activity Very low H20 permeability Dilution of tubular fluid Role in acid-base balance
Cell types in collecting duct
Intercalated cells - acid base balance Principal cells - Na balance, ECF volume regulation
ADH stimulation and role
Released by posterior pituitary in response to changes in plasma osmolality Moves to kidney to stimulate aquaporin in collecting duct, which then pulls water out of collecting duct into blood
What is GFR?
How much filtrate is removed from blood each minute
What sets the GFR?
Intrinsic factors - autoregulation - vasoconstriction of afferent arteriole, feedback from DCT where it comes back around Extrinsic control - renal sympathetic vasoconstrictor nerve activity
Describe glomerular capillary pressure
Pressure within glomerular arterioles pushing filtrate out into capsule FAVOURING filatration
Describe the pressures opposing filtration in Bowman’s capsule
Hydrostatic in Bowman’s space Osmotic force of plasma proteins
Outline filtration in glomerulus (what prevents blood cells from getting through?)
Fenestrae (gaps) are about 50-100nm allow small things through to podocytes, blood is too big to fit Like sieve to smaller colander, some things can’t get through fenestrae, basement membrane filter and protein filter at filtration slits
Outline make-up and role of filtration slit pores
Made up of proteins (nephrin and podocin), role is filtration - they are narrow to block small things such as protein
What is nephrotic syndrome?
Loss of a lot of protein Podocytes disappear, not working properly - protein moves from blood through nephron into urine 3.5g/25hr Frothy urine Loss of protein from blood vessels, causes leaking / oedema around the body Albumin lost (key protein that is lost), liver tries to compensate by producing lipids Primary and secondary causes
Outline measurement of GFR
Use a substance that is freely filtered, not metabolised /absorbed / secreted INULIN Once at constant plasma concentration, measure how much is being excreted over time
Formula for GFR (ml/min)
Urine inulin concentration (mg/min) * Flow rate (ml/min) Divided by plasma inulin concentration (mg/ml) BE CAREFUL OF UNITS
What is renal clearance?
Volume of plasma that is completely cleared of the substance by the kidney per unit of time
Measuring renal clearance in clinical practice and what can give false reading? What may cause values to be off?
Inulin is a lot of work, creatinine is natural proxy (released from skeletal muscle) Be careful of people on trimethoprim (antibiotic) which is competitive inhibitor of creatinine secretion Blood test
eGFR - values and drawbacks
CKD-EPI MDRD 24 hour urine (best but time consuming and difficult to control)
Describe filtration, reabsorption and excretion of glucose
Glucose is readily filtered, but then is completely reabsorbed from PCT should not be excreted at all unless overload