Renal system

Question 1

Explain ultrafiltration

Answer 1

Blood enter the glomerulus through the efferent arteriole at a high hydrostatic pressure. This forces out water, urea and small ions into the glomerulus filtrate leaving blood and large Proteins to leave in the afferent arteriole.

Question 2

What happens at the proximal convulated tubule

Answer 2

selective reabsorption where 85% of the glomerulus filtrate is reabsorbed leaving behind urea and excess ions.

Question 3

What happens in the loop of Henle

Answer 3

• mitochondria provides energy for na+ to be actively transported out via na+ pump from the descending loop
• this creates a high water potential in the interstitial space
• water moves into the interstitial space via osmosis
• boots of loop, na+ can diffuse out into the space because a lot of water has moved lowering the water potential