Planet Earth and Its Environment A 5000-million year Journey

Biology in Focus, HSC CourseGlenda Childrawi, Margaret Robson and Stephanie Hollis

Maintaining a BalanceTopic 17: Nephron Functioning1DOT POINTExplain how the process of filtration and reabsorption in the mammalian nephron regulate the body fluid compositionIntroduction The basic functional unit within the kidney is a microscopic tubule called the nephron, the smallest structural part of the kidney that is capable of producing urine. Each kidney contains millions of these tiny units, which coil and twist across both the cortex and medulla. legacy.owensboro.kctcs.edu

Introduction A nephron consists of four functional parts: Bowmans capsuleProximal (first) convoluted tubuleLoop of HenleDistal (second) convoluted tubule which leads into a collecting ductbeltina.org

Handout 17.1.2 The NephronBowmans CapsuleBowmans capsule occurs at one end and is an enlarged part of the nephron tubule. It is a double-walled sac, indented on one side to accommodate a spherical network of blood capillaries called the glomerulus. kidney-hypertension.com

Bowmans CapsuleA useful analogy is to think of the Bowmans capsule as a baseball mitt double-walled, hollow (where your hand fits inside) and curved around to accommodate a baseball in close contact with and partly surrounded by the Bowmans capsule. analytical.wikia.com

Bowmans CapsuleThe hollow part of the Bowmans capsule is filled with fluid called glomerular filtrate. This fluid continues its flow along the length of the nephron. As it flows along the nephron, the chemical composition of the fluid is adjusted. Various substances are removed or added to obtain the final product urine. click4biology.info

Nephron FunctioningThree main processes that lead to urine formation occur in the nephron. These are:Filtrationreabsorption secretionauburn.edu

17.1.3 Urine FormationFiltration The renal artery that enters the kidney branches into numerous smaller and smaller vessels, each terminating in a globular network of capillaries the glomerulus. The filtration of blood takes place at the surface between the glomerulus and the inner lining of each Bowmans capsule. cumbavac.org

Filtration A high pressure system exists in the blood flowing through the glomerulus, created partly by size of the blood vessels entering and leaving the vessel entering the capillary network is slightly larger than that existing. Substances within the blood that are small enough are squeezed through the capillary wall under pressure. They pass through the cellular layer lining the Bowmans capsule and move into the lumen. robbwolf.com

Filtration Blood cells and proteins are retained in the blood, while large volumes of water pass through, carrying dissolved substances including amino acids, glucose, salts (ions), nitrogenous wastes and other toxic molecules. Once inside the Bowmans capsule, this fluid is termed glomerular filtrate. click4biology.info

Filtration The process of filtration separates substances from the blood based on their size. It does not take into account whether they are wastes to be excreted or nutrients that are still required in the body. Glomerular filtrate is therefore not the final fluid excreted its composition is adjusted as it flows along the remainder of the nephron by two processes.nsbri.org

Filtration Tubular Reabsorption:Substances that the body need are reabsorbed from the filtrate into the kidney cells or bloodstream so that they are not lost with urine. cumbavac.org

Filtration Tubular secretion:Additional wastes that may still be in the bloodstream (those that were not squeezed out of the blood under the high pressure of filtration) must be added (secreted) into the fluid. cumbavac.org

ReabsorptionThe chemical composition of body fluids is precisely regulated by selective reabsorption of certain solutes from the glomerular filtrate at various points along the nephron the proximal tubule, loop of Henle and distal tubule. i3dlearning.pbworks.com

ReabsorptionThe filtrate contains molecules that the body needs (eg: amino acids, glucose, certain ions and some water) and so they are actively reabsorbed from the nephron and passed back into the interstitial fluid and blood capillaries surrounding the nephron, a process called tubular reabsorption. physioweb.org

Handout 17.1.4 Nephron Functioning ReabsorptionThese capillaries join up to form larger vessels which drain into the renal vein, where they are carried from the kidney back into the general circulation. legacy.owensboro.kctcs.edu

ReabsorptionAll nutrients are reabsorbed from the filtrate and varying quantities of inorganic ions are reabsorbed, depending on the particular requirements of the body at that time. asknature.org

Solute ReabsorptionAll amino acids, glucose and varying quantities of ions such as Na, K, Cl, Ca, and HCO and some vitamins are reabsorbed. The differing rate of reabsorption of particular ions depend on feedback from the body. All solutes that are reabsorbed from the nephron move by means of active transport and facilitated diffusion. beltina.org

Handout 17.1.5 Filtration, reabsorption and secretionSolute ReabsorptionGlomerular filtrate also contains a relatively high concentration of dissolved urea and other wastes, most of which are not reabsorbed. cumbavac.orinquisitr.comg

Water ReabsorptionAs the solutes are actively reabsorbed, water follows by the passive process of osmosis. An enormous quantity of water is reabsorbed by osmosis approximately 99% of the huge volume of filtrate that passes into the Bowmans capsule is reabsorbed along the length of the nephron and only 1% is actually excreted as urine. cumbavac.org

Water ReabsorptionThe membranes of the cells lining the nephron can change their permeability to water and ions, thus regulating the amount of these substances that are reabsorbed. Hormones control these changes in membrane permeability. embryology.med.unsw.edu.au

Parts of the Nephron InvolvedThe loop of Henle descends into the medulla and then ascends up towards the cortex, leading into the distal tubule. In the ascending limb of the loop of Henle, a large number of ions (Na in particular) are actively pumped out into the interstitial fluid in the medulla, since the membranes are permeable to salts but impermeable to water. unckidneycenter.org

Parts of the Nephron InvolvedSome urea may move by diffusion out of the collecting tubule and into the surrounding interstitial fluid. These solutes which accumulate in the medulla draw water by osmosis.cumbavac.org

Parts of the Nephron InvolvedSome water moves from the descending limb of the loop of Henle and a large amount of water moves from the collecting tubules, both of which have membranes that are permeable to water, allowing it to move passively by osmosis into the surrounding tissue of the medulla. Energy is used to ensure that urea does not return to the capillaries, so this is not true tubular reabsorption.

cumbavac.org

Tubular SecretionTubular secretion is the third process that contributes to urine formation in the nephron. It involves the removal of toxic substances from the blood capillaries and tissues and their active secretion into the nephron.

moodle.rockyview.ab.ca

Tubular SecretionMetabolic wastes such as urea, uric acid, ammonia and hydrogen ions are secreted into the fluid within the nephron, along with drugs such as penicillin, saccharin and morphine. Movement of urea and ammonia is mainly by means of diffusion.cumbavac.org

Tubular SecretionUrea may be recycled in the nephron to help move water by osmosis some urea may move from the collecting tubules into the interstitial fluid to help draw water out of the loop of Henle. It diffuses back into the descending limb of the loop of Henle so it may be continuously recycled if the body needs to reabsorb water.

faculty.southwest.tn.edu

17.1.6 The Sodium PumpActivity-Students to complete 17.1.7 Nephron Worksheet