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For example, the urine concentration in humans can be as concentrated as 1400 mOsm which is limited by the length of our loop of Henle, i.e., 2.2 mm. While a camel's loop of Henle, which is around 4.1 mm, can reach 2800 mOsm. Another example is the Australian mouse whose loop of Henle, 5.2 mm, can make the medulla as salty as 9000 mOsm. [7]
This stops the loop of Henle from concentrating urine, which usually uses the high osmotic and solute gradient to transport solutes and water. These agents can also act at other parts of the body. For example, they can be used to reduce intracranial [4] and intra-ocular pressure. Osmotic diuretics increase plasma volume, but because they do not ...
In contrast, the epithelium transitions to a simple squamous type in the thin segment, which is less metabolically active and has minimal surface specializations. The presence of aquaporin-1 channels in the thin segment facilitates high water permeability, crucial for water reabsorption as part of the kidney's countercurrent exchange mechanism ...
Within the nephron of the kidney, the ascending limb of the loop of Henle is a segment of the heterogenous loop of Henle downstream of the descending limb, after the sharp bend of the loop. This part of the renal tubule is divided into a thin and thick ascending limb ; the thick portion is also known as the distal straight tubule , in contrast ...
The 'single effect' describes the fact that the ascending thick limb of the loop of Henle is not permeable to water but is permeable to sodium chloride. This allows for a countercurrent exchange system whereby the medulla becomes increasingly concentrated, but at the same time setting up an osmotic gradient for water to follow should the ...
The descending limb of the loop of Henle is permeable to water but impermeable to solutes, due to the presence of aquaporin 1 in its tubular wall. Thus, water moves across the tubular wall into the medullary space, making the filtrate hypertonic (with a lower water potential). This is the filtrate that continues to the ascending limb. [2]
Variation in the rate of water excretion is an important survival function for mammals that have limited access to water. [135] The loop of Henle is the most prominent feature of the mammalian kidney. These loops provide the most efficient way to reabsorb water and create concentrated urine, allowing mammals to save water in their bodies. [138]
The loop of Henle of birds is similar to that of mammals, the main difference is that the nephron of birds has only a short loop of Henle. [77] Like mammals, although to a lesser extent, [67] birds are able to produce concentrated urine, thus conserving water in the body. [23]