Kidney Function - Loop of Henle

A hairpin-shaped tubule in the kidney that plays a crucial role in regulating water reabsorption and urine concentration.

The portion of the Loop of Henle that is permeable to water, allowing water to move out of the filtrate and into the surrounding interstitial fluid.

The portion of the Loop of Henle that is impermeable to water, actively pumping out sodium ions, increasing the concentration of the interstitial fluid.

The process by which the Loop of Henle concentrates urine by creating a gradient of increasing solute concentration in the interstitial fluid.

The ability of the kidney to produce urine with a lower water potential than the blood, enabling the body to conserve water.

The process by which the loop of Henle concentrates urine by creating a gradient of increasing solute concentration in the interstitial fluid, leading to water reabsorption and urine concentration.

The descending limb of the loop of Henle is permeable to water, allowing water to move out of the filtrate and into the surrounding interstitial fluid, which is hypertonic due to the countercurrent multiplier.

The ascending limb of the loop of Henle actively pumps out sodium ions, increasing the concentration of the interstitial fluid, creating a hypertonic environment that draws water from the descending limb.

The collecting duct is permeable to water, and ADH (antidiuretic hormone) regulates the permeability by controlling the number of aquaporins, water channels, in the collecting duct wall. This allows for fine-tuning of water reabsorption to control urine concentration.

Urine has a lower water potential than blood because the kidney has effectively reabsorbed water and concentrated solutes in the urine, conserving water for the body.

The distal convoluted tubule is the second convoluted part of the nephron, responsible for fine-tuning the concentration of water and salts in the urine and regulating blood pH by selectively reabsorbing ions. Its permeability is influenced by various hormones.

A counter-current multiplier system occurs when two fluids move in opposite directions, maximizing the exchange of substances. In the loop of Henle, this creates a gradient of increasing solute concentration in the interstitial fluid, allowing for efficient water reabsorption.

The distal convoluted tubule's permeability changes under the influence of hormones, allowing it to fine-tune water and salt reabsorption and maintain blood pH balance.

The kidney's ability to produce concentrated urine reflects the body's need to conserve water. This is achieved through the counter-current multiplier system in the loop of Henle.

Homeostasis refers to the body's ability to maintain a stable internal environment, even when external conditions change. In the case of water and salt balance, hormones regulate reabsorption in the distal convoluted tubule and collecting duct to keep the blood concentration stable.

The active transport of sodium and chloride ions from the filtrate in the ascending limb of the loop of Henle into the surrounding interstitial fluid.

The descending limb of the loop of Henle is permeable to water but impermeable to solutes. As filtrate travels down, it encounters a higher solute concentration in the interstitial fluid, causing water to move out by osmosis.

A condition marked by excessive urination, resulting in dilute urine. This can occur due to insufficient production or action of antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

The production of large amounts of dilute urine.