Approximately 170 liters per day of glomerular filtrate is formed in the human renal cortex. Nephrons and collecting ducts perform the enormous task of reabsorbing ~99% of the filtrate while…
Hypernatremia can occur with normal, increased or decreased total body sodium content. In healthy individuals and in normal conditions, the plasma concentration of sodium ranges between 136 and 143 mEq/l…
Internal potassium homeostasis is defined as the regulation of potassium distribution between the intracellular and extracellular fluid compartments, as distinct from the net gain or loss of potassium from the…
The principal function of the proximal tubule is the reabsorption of some two-thirds to three-quarters of the glomerular filtrate. This means, primarily, reabsorption of Na + , Cl − ,…
Abstract Normal blood pressure (BP) regulation involves the integrated actions of multiple cardiovascular, renal, neural, endocrine, and local tissue control systems. Chronic hypertension is a disorder of long-term BP regulation,…
The kidney of vertebrates plays a major role in the homeostasis of the extracellular fluid. Despite large changes in water and salt intake, the kidney is able to maintain the…
Hormones which enhance sodium excretion, i.e., natriuretic peptide hormones, are very important for the maintenance of extracellu/lar fluid volume within a narrow range, despite wide variations in dietary sodium intake….
The glomerulus or renal corpuscle is comprised of the glomerular tuft surrounded by Bowman’s capsule and space. The tuft is a specialized microvascular bed which contains three cell types including…
Extracellular fluid (ECF) volume is determined by the balance between sodium intake and renal excretion of sodium. Under normal circumstances, wide variations in salt intake lead to parallel changes in…
More than a century ago, Golgi observed that “the ascending limb of the loop of Henle returns with invariable constancy to its capsule of origin”. At this point of contact…
