Excretory System

Maintains blood volume by removing excess of water Maintains blood pressure by secreting renin Plays a role in metabolism: gluconeogenesis, erythropoietin, calcitriol (vitamin D) Detoxifies substances (drugs and free radicals)

Renal cortex Renal pyramid Renal medulla

Renal pelvis

Renal vein Inferior vena cava Urinary bladder Urethra

Renal artery Kidney Aorta Ureter

Ureter

Structure of the Kidney

Figure 26.4a, b

Nephron

Afferent arteriole

Efferent arteriole

Blood Supply to Kidney

Two Capillary system

Glomerular capillary system - high pressure, filtration system Peritubular capillaries - low pressure, absorptive system

The nephron consists of a renal corpuscle and renal tubule

The renal corpuscle is composed of
Bowmans capsule and the glomerulus

The renal tubule consists of

Proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) Loop of Henle: Thin descending limb, Thin ascending limb
and Thick ascending limb

Distal convoluted tubule (DCT)

Two types of nephron

Cortical nephrons
~85% of all nephrons Located in the cortex

Juxtamedullary nephrons
Closer to renal medulla Loops of Henle extend

deep into renal pyramids

Urine Formation

Afferent arteriole

Efferent arteriole

Glomerulus

Figure 14.8 (1) Page 518

Lumen of glomerular capillary Endothelial cell Basement membrane Podocyte foot process

Bowmans capsule Lumen of Bowmans capsule Outer layer of Bowmans capsule Inner layer of Bowmans capsule (podocytes) Proximal convoluted tubule

(see next slide)

Podocyte foot process

Glomerular ultrafiltration Membrane

Filtration slit Basement membrane Capillary pore

3 Layers of Glomerular Capillary Membrane Endothelial layer of capillaries Basement membrane Capsular layer with podocytes

(see next slide)

Capillary pore

Endothelial cell Lumen of glomerular capillary

Basement membrane

Lumen of Bowmans capsule Filtration slit Podocyte foot process

Mesangial Cells
Intra-mesangial cells lie between capillary tuft and provide support for glomeruli. They secrete a substance similar to basement mebrane. Extra mesnagial cells have contractile properties in response to neurohormonal substance which regulate blood flow in glomerulus. They are also phagocytic in nature.

Glomerular filtration
Movement of fluid through the glomerular capillaries is determined by capillary pressure (60 mm Hg), colloidal osmotic pressure, and capillary permeability. 125 ml of filtrate is formed each minute - (GFR) which can vary from a few milliliters per minute to as high as 200 ml/minute. Constriction of the efferent arteriole increases resistance to outflow from the glomeruli and increases the glomerular pressure and the GFR. Constriction of the afferent arteriole causes a reduction in the renal blood flow, glomerular filtration pressure, and GFR. Both, afferent and the efferent arterioles are innervated by the sympathetic nervous system and are sensitive to vasoactive hormones, such as angiotensin II. Strong sympathetic stimulation, such as shock, constriction of the afferent arteriole causes a marked decrease in renal blood flow and thus glomerular filtration pressure & urine output can be zero.

Reabsorption in the kidneys occurs by different mechanisms

Facilitated diffusion and Passive transport Primary active transport Secondary active transport Cotransport (Symporter) Countertransport (Antiporter)

Reabsorption in PCT
65% of reabsorption and secretion occurs in PCT. Glucose amino acids, lactate and water soluble vitamins, ions such Na+, Cl-, K+, HCO3- completely reabsorbed. As these solutes move into the tubular cells, their concentration in the tubular lumen decreases, providing a concentration gradient for the osmotic reabsorption of water and urea. PCT secretes H+ and organic compounds such as penicillin, aspirin, morphine.

Reabsorption of Bicarbonate & Na+ & Secretion of H + Ions

Na+ antiporters reabsorb Na+ and secrete H+
PCT cells produce the H+ & release bicarbonate ion to the peritubular capillaries important buffering system

For every H+ secreted into the tubular fluid, one filtered bicarbonate eventually returns to the blood

Reabsorption in the PCT

Na+ symporters help reabsorb materials from the tubular filtrate and each type of symporter has an upper limit on how fast it can work, called the transport maximum (Tm). The maximum amount of substance that these transport systems can reabsorb per unit time is called the transport maximum. Tm related elated to the number of carrier proteins that are available for transport.

Reabsorption of Nutrients

Tm determines renal threshold for reabsorption of substances in tubular fluid

Symporters in the Loop of Henle

Thin descending limb is highly permeable to water and moderately permeable to urea, sodium, and other ions Thick ascending limb is impermeable to water & has Na+ K- Cl- symporters that reabsorb these ions. About 20% to 25% of the filtered load of sodium, potassium, and chloride is reabsorbed in loop of Henle.

Reabsorption in the DCT & Collecting Duct

DCT is relatively impermeable to water but removal of Na+ and Cl- (5%) continues in the DCT by means of Na+ Cl- symporters Ca++ actively reabsorbed under the influence of parathyroid hormone and vitamin D. ADH exerts its action on DCT. Late part of DCT and collecting duct are the sites for aldosterone action . Two types of cells: - principal cells reabsorb Na+ and secrete K+ under the influence of aldosterone - intercalated cells reabsorb HCO3- ions in exchange for H+

Formation of Concentrated Urine

Urine can be up to 4 times greater osmolarity than plasma It is possible for principal cells & ADH to remove water from urine to that extent, if interstitial fluid surrounding the loop of Henle has high osmolarity Long loop juxtamedullary nephrons and Na+/K+/Cl- make that possible Two factors contribute to building and maintaining the osmotic gradient: Difference in solute & water reabsorption in different sections of the tubule Countercurrent flow Urea recycling causes a buildup of urea in the renal medulla

Formation of Con. Urine: ADH

Increases water permeability of principal cells so regulates facultative water reabsorption Stimulates the insertion of aquaporin-2 channels into the membrane
water molecules move more rapidly

When osmolarity of plasma & interstitial fluid increases, more ADH is secreted and facultative water reabsorption increases.

Tubular lumen filtrate

Distal tubular cell

Peritubular capillary plasma

Water channel

Increases permeability of luminal membrane to H2O by inserting new water channels

Countercurrent Mechanism
Descending limb is very permeable to water higher osmolarity of interstitial fluid outside the descending limb causes water to mover out of the tubule by osmosis at hairpin turn, osmolarity can reach 1200 mOsm/liter Ascending limb is impermeable to water, but symporters remove Na+ and Cl- so osmolarity drops to 100 mOsm/liter, but less urine is left Vasa recta blood flowing in opposite directions than the loop of Henle -- provides nutrients & O2 without affecting osmolarity of interstitial fluid

Reabsorption within Loop of Henle