The nephron is the functional unit of the kidney. Fluid enters the space within
ID: 151578 • Letter: T
Question
The nephron is the functional unit of the kidney. Fluid enters the space within Bowman’s capsule through filtration across the glomerular capillaries. The walls of these capillaries will allow small ions and other solutes to pass from the plasma phase of the blood to the filtrate in Bowman’s capsule. However, proteins are too big to cross the capillary, and these are retained within the capillaries. Estimate the total glomerular filtration rate (GFR) if the average glomerular pressure is 60 mmHg and the pressure within the Bowman’s capsule that collects the filtrate is 20 mmHg. The osmotic pressure of the retained plasma proteins is 25.6 mmHg. The value of LPS for the glomerular capillaries is about 8.7 mL min1 mmHg1
Explanation / Answer
Net filtration pressure = glomerular capillary blood pressure – (plasmacolloid osmotic pressure + Bowman’s capsule hydrostatic pressure)
= 60- ( 25.6 + 20)
60- 45.6
=14.4 mmHg
Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) depends on Net filtration pressure, which is only regulated by changing the glomerular capillary hydrostatic pressure.
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