Nephron Filtration of Blood: How the Body Synthesizes Urine

The production of urine is vital to the health of our bodies. Without urines production and elimination, various wastes could not be filtered out of the blood system. This cleaning of the blood takes place in the kidneys, or more specifically, in the millions of nephrons the kidney houses. The nephron can be best described as the functional unit of the kidney that forms urine by four precisely regulated processes: filtration, reabsorption, secretion and excretion. The kidney is a large organ shaped like a bean (Refer to Figure 1), but the nephron is mainly located in the renal cortex and a small portion descends into the renal medulla (Refer to Figure 1 & 2). All of the kidneys nephrons connect to the minor calyx and then to the major calyx. The major calyx then connects to the ureter, which sends the urine to the bladder.

Figure 1 Gross anatomy of kidney http://www.comprehensive-kidney-facts.com/kidney-anatomy.html

Figure 2 Nephrons location in the kidney http://mekarwijaya.blogspot.com/2009/01/kidney.html

FILTRATION The nephron achieves filtration in the glomerulus, which is located inside the glomerular (Bowmans) capsule. Together, the glomerulus and the Bowmans capsule are collectively referred to as the renal corpuscle. Blood enters the glomerulus from the afferent arteriole and flows against the knot of capillaries transporting water across the glomerular membrane. This transport of water is due to an osmotic gradient1 created by the presence of electrolyte solutes such as Na+, K+, and Mg+. Once the blood flows through the glomerulus, it exits via the efferent arteriole back into the bloodstream. For filtration to occur, the nervous system must constrict both the afferent and efferent arterioles (by releasing a hormone called angiotensin2) to create a high pressure inside the glomerulus. This high pressure forces small molecules of glucose, water, amino acids, electrolytes and urea through the capillary walls of the glomerulus and into the Bowmans capsule. This process is called ultra filtration and the fluid formed by the glomerulus is called glomerular filtrate. Once the blood has passed through the glomerulus, it is considered cleaned; but, the nephron still has many essential electrolytes to obtain after filtration. (Refer to Figure 3)

Figure 3 Gross anatomy of nephron http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/ap/dynamichuman2/content/urinary/visuals.mhtml

The pressure created by solutes that are dissolved in water that pushes the water from one side of the membrane to the other. 2 Protein whose presences in the blood tends to raise the blood pressure and causes blood vessels to constrict.

REABSORPTION As the filtrate passes down the nephron, small molecules such as ions, glucose and amino acids get reabsorbed back into the blood. Reabsorption, by definition, is the movement of substance out of the renal tubules back into the blood capillaries located around the tubules. Reabsorption begins in the proximal convoluted tubules and continues in the loop of Henle, distal convoluted tubules, and collecting duct. Large amounts of water - approximately 180 liters per day - are reabsorbed back into the bloodstream through passive reabsorption. The proximal convoluted tubule is located on what is known as the descending limb, which due to its thin membrane allows water to permeate back into the peritubular capillaries. (Refer to Figure 4)

Figure 4 Reabsorbtion of the Loop of Henle http://www6.ufrgs.br/favet/imunovet/molecular_immunology/kidney.html

Not all reabsorption occurs passively. (Refer to Table 1) The nutrient glucose (blood sugar) is entirely absorbed back into the blood from the proximal convoluted tubules through active transport. However, when the kidneys are operating at peak efficiency, filtrating approximately 125mL/min, the nephrons ability to reabsorb glucose and water is limited. To combat excess

reabsorption, specialized proteins called transporters are located on lumens3 cell membrane. Transporters grab small molecules from the filtrate as it flows by regulating the molecules passage through the membrane. Different locations of the nephron yield different concentrations of transporter proteins. For example, sodium ions (Na+) are only partially reabsorbed from the distal tubules back into the blood due to the low concentration of sodium transporter proteins. Other substances that are reabsorbed with Na+ in this way include amino acids, lactic acid, and bicarbonate ions (HCO3-). Following the movement of solutes, water is then reabsorbed by osmosis4. About 80% of the filtrate volume is reabsorbed in this way. (Refer to Figure 4) Substance Water Na K HCO3 Glucose Urea Inulin % Reabsorbed 99.4% 99.4% 93.9% 100% 100% 53% 0%

Table 1; Data from: William Ganong. Review of Medical Physiology. 1999.

SECRETION The secretion stage of the kidney nephron begins at the distal convoluted tubule (DCT), which is the higher portion after the ascending limb. In this part of the nephron, nitrogenous waste, excess electrolytes, acidic ions, and excess water are secreted into the urine. This process is regulated by the bodys endocrine system5. While this process seems simple it is a very important step in filtering out the bodys toxins. (Refer to Figure 4) EXCRETION Once the urea exits the distal convoluted tubule (DCT), it enters the collecting duct, whose function is to reabsorb a small percentage of the remaining excess water. Once the concentrated urine is collected, it is sent to the ureter via connective vessels called minor and major calyxes, as mentioned earlier in the text. The ureter is the main connective vessel to the bladder from the kidney; here the urine waits to be excreted. (Refer to Figure 4) In conclusion, the nephrons collectively work together in the kidney to maintain water and electrolyte balances. Furthermore, the kidney is ultimately responsible for the excretion of water
3 4

Central cavity of a tubular or other hollow structure in an organism or cell. The passive diffusion of water across a membrane. 5 The system in the body that regulates hormones.

soluble wastes. If the kidneys do not function properly, an individual will be susceptible to disorders involving electrolyte imbalance and excess waste (amino acid waste products) accumulating in the blood stream. Without electrolytes and water being in balance, other systems in the body may be adversely affected.