RENAL

PHYSIOLOGY
Jobin Johnson IInd
Year
Topic
s
 N A L
E
RHY SI OO
L
P
Y
Multiple Functions of the
Kidneys
Ø Excretion of Metabolic Wastes
Ø Regulation of Water
Ø Balances the Electrolytes
Ø Regulation of Arterial Pressure
Ø Secretion, Metabolism and
excretion of Hormones
Kidney


s
are

üDark Red
üBean Shaped
üTwo in Number
 Outer Transparent membrane



CAPSULE
Divided into two areas:-


 Light outer area

 RENAL CORTEX


 Dark
inner area


RENAL MEDULLA
Nephron
ØAbout 1.5
million nephrons
in each kidney
 Two types
cal
Corti on
Nephr
Cortical Nephron

JuxtaMedullary Nephron
d ull ary
a Me
Juxt on
Nephr
Basic Glomerular

Structure
Afferent arteriole Capillaries

of a
Efferent
arteriole

Nephron Peritubular
capillaries

Nephron
Mechanism of Urine
Formation
I.Glomerular Filtration

II.Selective Reabsorption

III.Tubular Secretion
I.
Glomerular

Filtration
q
q
q
qIt is the First process of
Urine Formation.


qGlomerular Filtration is the

process by which the blood
that passes through
glomerular capillaries is
filtered through the
filtration membrane.
q
Pr
qWhen the blood passes
oc through the glomerular
es capillaries, the plasma
s is filtered into the
of Bowman’s Capsule.
Gl qExcept Plasma
om Proteins , all the
substances are
er filtered.
ul qThe filtered fluid is
ar called Glomerular
Fi Filtrate or
The capsular fluid enters PCT and
from there onwards the fluid is
called as Tubular fluid.
Ul
tr
a
qBecause even the minute
particles are filtered, the
process is called as

fi
Glomerular Filtration .
qPlasma Proteins are not filtered
because of their large molecular

lt
size.
qThe protein molecules are larger
than the slit pores present in

ra the endothelium of capillaries.

qThe filtrate contains all the
substances present in the plasma
II.
Selective
Reabsorptio
qIt’s a Second step in Urine Formation

qIt is a process by which water and other

substances are transported from renal tubules
back to the blood.

qSince the substance are taken back into the

blood from the glomerular filtrate, the entire
process is called Tubular Reabsorption .
q
qThe essential substances which are necessary
for the body such as glucose, amino acids and
vitamins are reabsorbed.
q
q
Mechanism of Reabsorptio
Active Reabsorption :- Movement
os molecules against the uphill
gradient.
Na+,Cl-,K+, phosphates, sulfates
etc etc gets reabsorbed.
Passive Reabsorption:-
Movement of molecules along the
downhill gradient
Water, Chloride and Urea gets
reabsorbed.
Reabsorption
Substance reabsorbed from
i.
ii. PCT:-
üAbout 88% is reabsorbed from PCT.
üGlucose, amino acids, Na, K, Ca, uric acid
and water gets reabsorbed.
ii. Loop of Henle:-
Site of

üSodium and Chloride gets reabsorbed.

iii. DCT:-
üSodium, Calcium, Bicarbonate and water
gets reabsorbed
II I . T u bu l a
se c re t i on r
qIt’s a Final step in Urine Formation
q

qIt’s a process by which the substances

are transported into the renal tubules.
q

qIts also known as the Tubular

Excretion .
qSecretion is the process by which substances move into the
Renal tubules from blood in the capillaries around these
tubules.

qSecretion is reabsorption in reverse.

q Reabsorption moves substances out of the tubules and into the

blood, Secretion moves substances out of the blood and into
the tubules where they mix with the water and other wastes
and are converted into urine.

qSubstances secreted are H+ ions, K+, Ammonia and certain

drugs.

qTubular Secretion plays a crucial role in maintaining body’s

acid-base balance, an important body function in which kidney
participates.
Thus,
Urine is formed in the
nephron by the process of
Glomerular Filtration ,
Selective Reabsorption
and Tubular secretion .
Glomerular
filtration rate
(GFR)
Defini
vGFR is defined as the total
quantity of filtrate formed is
tion all the nephrons of both the
kidneys in the given unit of
time .

vThe normal GFR is 125ml per minute

or about 180 liters per day.
 GFR
Pressures determining
The pressures which
determine the GFR
are:-
1.Glomerular capillary
pressure
2.Colloidal Osmotic
Pressure(glomeruli)
3.Hydrostatic
pressure(Bowman’s
capsule)
1 . Glomerular Capillary
pressure :-
ü
üPressure exerted by the blood in
the capillaries.
üApprox 60mmHg
üIt’s the highest capillary
pressure in the body
üIt Favors glomerular filtration.
2. Colloid osmotic
pressure :-
üPressure exerted by the Plasm
Proteins in the glomeruli.
üIts about 25mmHg
üIt opposes glomerular
filtration.
1.
3. Hydrostatic pressure :-
üPressure exerted by the filtrate
in Bowman’s capsule.
üAlso called the Capsular pressur
üIt’s about 15mmHg
üIt also opposes Glomerular
Filtration.
Net Filtration Pressure:-
vBalance between pressures favoring
filtration and pressures opposing
filtration.
vAlso called as Essential Filtration
Pressure.
It is expressed as follows:-
v
Net Glomerular { Colloid+
Filtrat = Capillary - Hydrostatic
ion Pressure Pressure }
Pressur
60 – ( 25 + 15 ) = 20 mmHg
e =
Factors Affecting
There are many factors which affect /
regulate the GFR……few are mentioned
below.

1 ) Renal Blood Flow :- Directly proportional to

GFR

2 ) Glomerular Caplliary Pressure :-Directly

Proportional

3 ) Colloid Osmotic Pressure :- Inversely

GFR

proportional

4 ) Hydrostatic Pressure :- Inversely

Tubular
Function
 Functions of the Renal
Tubule
§Reabsorption of selective
substances
§Substances which are
important for the body.
§Helps is the Formation of
Urine.
Thank you