Explain how the renal medullary osmotic gradient is generated and maintained. Describe how this is important...

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Medical Sciences

Explain how the renal medullary osmotic gradient is generatedand maintained. Describe how this is important for the regulationof water balance and urine volume. Include the terms Loop ofHenle, aquaporin and antidiuretic hormone.
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Generating and Maintaining a High Medullary Interstitial Osmolality Counter current multiplication Transporters in the loop of Henle generate the vertical osmotic gradient The descending thin limb is PERMEABLE to water but IMPERMEABLE to NaCl The thin and thick ascending limbs are permeable to Na K and Cl but impermeable to water Referred to as the DILUTING segment Counter current exchange The unique blood flow in vasa recta MAINTAINS the osmotic gradient Kidney is capable of producing urine with osmolalities ranging from a low of 50100 mOskg to a high of approximately 1200 mOskg At these extremes typically either a large volume of dilute urine or a small volume of concentrated urine is produced The kidney is uniquely adapted to produce urine with this range of osmolalities A vertical osmotic gradient established in the renal medulla is the cornerstone of the process This See Answer

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