What is the function of the descending limb of the nephron loop?
What is the function of the descending limb of the nephron loop?
The descending limb of the nephron loop is called the concentratingsegment because it is only permeable to water. The descending loop constitutes the first part of the loop of Henle that is permeable to water and impermeable to ions. This enables the kidneys to conserve water and produce concentrated urine.
What is the main function of the descending loop of Henle quizlet?
The loop of henle dips down into the medulla, which is highly salty because of the ion absorption, Sodium is constantly being pumped out of the ascending limb into the medulla. The ascending limb is impermeable to water. The descending limb is permeable to water, but has low permeability to Sodium.
Where is Henle’s loop found?
nephron
Loop of Henle is found in nephron which is the smallest unit of a kidney. The loop of Henle consists of a descending and an ascending limbs which forms counter current system whose active secretion and selective permeabilities result in a high salt concentration in intestinal medulla.
Why is a high medullary interstitial osmolarity important to renal function?
High concentrations of sodium and urea in the renal medullary interstitium are essential for the production of concentrated urine. These create a high osmotic gradient between the renal tubular lumen and interstitium, which is necessary for water reabsorption.
Is the descending limb permeable to ions?
Descending limb: This portion of the tubule system is permeable to ions and H2O so that these components of the filtrate are free to move in and out of the tubules as they try to reach an equilibrium.
What happens in the ascending limb of the nephron loop?
Thick ascending limbs of Henle’s loop have at least three major roles: (1) They reabsorb sodium chloride which dilutes the urine. (3) They reabsorb large amounts of potassium, calcium, and magnesium in an energy-efficient manner.
Why does water move out of the descending limb of the loop of Henle?
In summary, the loop of Henle is surrounded by tissue fluid which has a high concentration of ions in it. This causes water to move out of the descending limb by osmosis. This produces a more concentrated filtrate because of this, ions move out of the loop in the thin ascending limb.
Is the descending limb permeable to water?
The first segment of the loop, the thin descending limb, is permeable to water, and the liquid reaching the bend of the loop is much richer in salt and urea than the blood plasma is.
Why is the ascending limb hypotonic?
The ascending limb transports Na+ and some urea into surrounding medullary tissue. It is impermeable to water. So it makes urine dilute or hypotonic.
What is medullary collecting duct?
Medullary collecting ducts converge to form a central (papillary) duct near the apex of each renal pyramid. This “papillary duct” exits the renal pyramid at the renal papillae. The renal filtrate it carries drains into a minor calyx as urine.
Why does the ascending limb of the loop of Henle have thicker walls than the descending limb?
As ascending limb of the loop of Henle is impermeable for water, the pressure inside the tubule segment is significantly higher compared to the descending limb that expresses aquaporins. As a result, thick walls of the ascending limb prevent its rupture.
What consists of an ascending and descending limb?
The loop of Henle is a U-shaped tube that extends from the proximal tubule. It consists of a descending limb and an ascending limb.
What is the correct order of components of a nephron?
A nephron is the basic unit of the kidneys and one of its functions is to filter substances in the blood and excreting urine. The correct order of where urine flows in a nephron is: glomerulus, next to proximal convoluted tubule, then to loop of henle , then to distal convoluted tubule, lastly collecting duct.
What happens in the ascending limb of the loop of Henle?
The ascending limb of the loop of Henle is a direct continuation from the descending limb of loop of Henle, and one of the structures in the nephron of the kidney. The ascending limb has a thin and a thick segment. The ascending limb drains urine into the distal convoluted tubule.
What is the primary function of the ascending loop of Henle?
The loop of Henle is found in the medulla of the Kidney. Its primary function is reabsorption of NaCl and water. Through the counter-current multiplier effect, a hypertonic medulla is created allowing reabsorption of water from the collecting duct and the descending limb via osmosis.
