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Counter Current Mechanism
Counter Current Mechanism
MECHANISM
Introduction
• Kidney posses unique property of regulating the volume &
osmolality of urine.
a. Antidiuretic hormones
• Reabsorbing solutes
• Osmolarity decreases to
100mOsm/L
Thus, Regardless of whether ADH is present or absent , fluid leaving the early
distal tubular segment is hypo-osmotic, with an osmolarity of only one third the
osmolarity of plasma
Renal mechanisms for excreting a
dilute urine
• Late distal convoluted tubule , cortical collecting duct
& collecting duct impermeable to water in the
absence of ADH
• ↑ interstitial concentration
• Establishes 200mOsm/L
concentration gradient
Counter current mechanism
• Step 3
• Tubular fluid in descending
limb of loop of Henle and
interstitial fluid reach
osmotic equilibrium .
• Interstitial osmolarity is
maintained at 400mOsm/L
(continued transport of ions
out of thick ascending
limb)
Step 4
• Additional flow of fluid into
the loop of Henle
• Hyperosmotic fluid flows
into the ascending limb.
• ↑ interstitial osmolality to
500mOsm/L
Counter current mechanism
Hyper osmotic tubular fluid from descending limb flows into ascending limb ,
more solutes are continuously pumped out of tubules into medullary
interstitium
• Traps solutes in medulla and multiplies the concentration
gradient established by active pumping of ions out of thick
limb of loop of Henle.