BIOL 221 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Distal Convoluted Tubule, Renal Medulla, Descending Limb Of Loop Of Henle

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Counter-current theory: active na+cl- reabsorption in ascending limb creates osmotic gradient in renal medulla, osmotic gradient created by ascending limb draws water out of the descending limb. The counter-current theory is used to explain how water is conserved by the nephron loop and vasa recta. Active reabsorption of sodium, potassium and chloride in the ascending limb creates an osmotic gradient in the renal medulla. The cortical solute concentration is around 300 mosm; the solute concentration in the deep medulla is around 1200 mosm. The osmotic gradient created by ion reabsorption in the ascending limb draws water out of the descending limb which lies adjacent to it. Medullary concentration gradient: na+, k+, cl- concentrations decrease in ascending limb, filtrate is diluted in terms of nacl, filtrate becomes hypo-osmotic compared to plasma, other solutes become more concentrated as water is removed from descending limb. Sodium, potassium and chloride concentrations decrease in the ascending limb as these ions are reabsorbed.

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