glomerulus

Examples of glomerulus in the following topics:

• Glomerular Filtration

  • Glomerular filtration is the renal process whereby fluid in the blood is filtered across the capillaries of the glomerulus.
  • Blood plasma enters the afferent arteriole and flows into the glomerulus, a cluster of intertwined capillaries.
  • The Bowman's capsule (also called the glomerular capsule) surrounds the glomerulus and is composed of visceral (simple squamous epithelial cells—inner) and parietal (simple squamous epithelial cells—outer) layers.
  • These then leave the glomerulus through the efferent arteriole, which becomes capillaries meant for kidney–oxygen exchange and reabsorption before becoming venous circulation.
  • The force of hydrostatic pressure in the glomerulus (the force of pressure exerted from the pressure of the blood vessel itself) is the driving force that pushes filtrate out of the capillaries and into the slits in the nephron.

• Regulation of Glomerular Filtration Rate

  • GFR=Filtration Constant X (Hydrostatic Glomerulus Pressure–Hydrostatic Bowman's Capsule Pressure)–(Osmotic Glomerulus Pressure+Osmotic Bowman's Capsule Pressure)
  • Changes in either the hydrostatic or osmotic pressure in the glomerulus or Bowman's capsule will change GFR.
  • Many factors can change GFR through changes in hydrostatic pressure, in terms of the flow of blood to the glomerulus.
  • GFR is most sensitive to hydrostatic pressure changes within the glomerulus.
  • The Bowman's capsule space exerts hydrostatic pressure of its own that pushes against the glomerulus.

• Glomerular Diseases

  • Bowman's capsule surround the glomerulus.
  • The blood is filtered through the capillaries of the glomerulus into the Bowman's capsule.
  • A glomerulus receives its blood supply from an afferent arteriole of the renal circulation.
  • Unlike most other capillary beds, the glomerulus drains into an efferent arteriole rather than a venule.
  • The resistance of these arterioles results in high pressure within the glomerulus.

• Nephron: The Functional Unit of the Kidney

  • The renal corpuscle, located in the renal cortex, is composed of a network of capillaries known as the glomerulus, as well as a cup-shaped chamber that surrounds it: the glomerular or Bowman's capsule.
  • The renal tubule is a long, convoluted structure that emerges from the glomerulus.
  • The first part is called the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT), due to its proximity to the glomerulus.
  • The glomerulus and convoluted tubules of the nephron are located in the cortex of the kidney, while the collecting ducts are located in the pyramids of the kidney's medulla.

• Overview of Urine Formation

  • During filtration, blood enters the afferent arteriole and flows into the glomerulus where filterable blood components, such as water and nitrogenous waste, will move towards the inside of the glomerulus, and nonfilterable components, such as cells and serum albumins, will exit via the efferent arteriole.
  • These filterable components accumulate in the glomerulus to form the glomerular filtrate.
  • Red blood cells and sugar are not normally found in urine but may indicate glomerulus injury and diabetes mellitus respectively.

• Nephron, Parts, and Histology

  • The glomerulus is a capillary tuft that receives its blood supply from an afferent arteriole of the renal circulation.
  • The Bowman's capsule (also called the glomerular capsule) surrounds the glomerulus.
  • Red blood cells and large proteins, such as serum albumins, cannot pass through the glomerulus under normal circumstances.
  • Glomerulus, 2.

• Bulk Flow: Filtration and Reabsorption

  • Each nephron begins in a renal corpuscle composed of a glomerulus containing numerous capillaries enclosed in a Bowman's capsule.
  • Proteins and other large molecules are filtered out of the oxygenated blood in the glomerulus and pass into Bowman's capsule and the tubular fluid contained within.

• Supply of Blood and Nerves to the Kidneys

  • These afferent arterioles branch into the glomerular capillaries, which facilitate fluid transfer to the nephrons inside the Bowman's capsule, while efferent arterioles take blood away from the glomerulus, and into the interlobular capillaries, which provide tissue oxygenation to the parenchyma of the kidney.
  • Input from the sympathetic nervous system triggers vasoconstriction of the arterioles in the kidney, thereby reducing renal blood flow into the glomerulus.

• Kidney Function and Physiology

  • First, the nephrons filter blood that runs through the capillary network in the glomerulus .
  • Almost all solutes, except for proteins, are filtered out into the glomerulus by a process called glomerular filtration.
  • The blood pressure in the glomerulus is maintained independent of factors that affect systemic blood pressure.

• Physical Characteristics of Urine

  • These problems may seem superficial or minor on their own, but can actually be the symptoms for more serious diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, or a damaged glomerulus.