Concentration and dilution of urine

Concentration and dilution of urine

Concentration and dilution of urine

On this page

Urine Concentration/Dilution - The Kidney's Waterworks

  • Countercurrent Mechanism: The Loop of Henle generates a hypertonic medullary interstitium (up to 1200 mOsm/L), crucial for water reabsorption.
  • Role of ADH (Vasopressin): Secreted in response to high plasma osmolality. It promotes water reabsorption by the collecting ducts.
  • Collecting Duct Permeability: ADH inserts aquaporin-2 water channels into the apical membrane of principal cells, allowing water to move down the osmotic gradient into the hypertonic medulla.

Collecting duct transport of ions, water, and urea

⭐ In the complete absence of ADH (e.g., central diabetes insipidus), urine osmolality can be as low as 50 mOsm/L, leading to significant water loss.

Countercurrent Mechanism - The Loop-the-Loop System

  • Establishes & maintains a hyperosmotic medullary interstitium (gradient from 300 to 1200 mOsm/kg), crucial for urine concentration.

  • Countercurrent Multiplier (Loop of Henle): Creates the gradient.

    • Thick Ascending Limb (TAL): Actively pumps out NaCl. Impermeable to H₂O. Dilutes tubular fluid, concentrates interstitium.
    • Descending Limb: Permeable to H₂O, which moves into the salty interstitium, concentrating tubular fluid.
  • Countercurrent Exchanger (Vasa Recta): Maintains the gradient via slow blood flow, preventing solute washout.

  • Urea Recycling: Contributes to the deep medullary hypertonicity.

⭐ The TAL is the "diluting segment." Loop diuretics (e.g., Furosemide) inhibit the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter, impairing the medullary gradient and causing potent diuresis.

Countercurrent Mechanism in Renal Tubules

Role of ADH - The Thirst Quencher

  • Source: Released from the posterior pituitary in response to ↑ plasma osmolality (primary) or ↓ blood volume.
  • Action: Binds to V2 receptors on the basolateral membrane of principal cells in the collecting ducts.
  • Mechanism: Activates a Gs-cAMP pathway, promoting the insertion of aquaporin-2 (AQP2) water channels into the apical membrane.
  • Result: Greatly ↑ H₂O permeability, allowing water reabsorption down the medullary concentration gradient. Produces low-volume, concentrated (hyperosmotic) urine.

ADH action on aquaporin-2 and ENaC in collecting duct

⭐ In central diabetes insipidus, ↓ ADH production leads to excretion of large volumes of dilute urine. In nephrogenic DI, the kidney is unresponsive to ADH due to receptor or channel defects.

Clinical Correlates - When Water Balance Fails

  • Syndrome of Inappropriate ADH (SIADH): Excessive ADH leads to water retention.
    • Causes: Ectopic production (e.g., small cell lung cancer), CNS disorders, drugs.
    • Findings: Euvolemic hyponatremia (Na⁺ < 135 mEq/L), ↓ serum osmolality, inappropriately concentrated urine (>100 mOsm/kg).
  • Diabetes Insipidus (DI): Insufficient ADH action causes massive water loss.
    • Central: ↓ ADH production. Nephrogenic: Kidneys unresponsive to ADH.
    • Findings: Hypernatremia (Na⁺ > 145 mEq/L), polyuria, polydipsia, dilute urine.

⭐ Rapid correction of chronic hyponatremia (>48h) by >8-12 mEq/L/day risks osmotic demyelination syndrome (ODS).

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • ADH is the principal regulator of final urine osmolality, acting on the collecting ducts.
  • The countercurrent multiplier in the Loop of Henle establishes the medullary gradient.
  • The vasa recta maintain this gradient via countercurrent exchange, preventing washout.
  • The thick ascending limb is the primary diluting segment (impermeable to water).
  • Maximal ADH leads to highly concentrated urine (up to 1200 mOsm/L).
  • Absent ADH results in large volumes of dilute urine (down to 50 mOsm/L).

Practice Questions: Concentration and dilution of urine

Test your understanding with these related questions

A 28-year-old woman presents to her primary care physician complaining of intense thirst and frequent urination for the past 2 weeks. She says that she constantly feels the urge to drink water and is also going to the bathroom to urinate frequently throughout the day and multiple times at night. She was most recently hospitalized 1 month prior to presentation following a motor vehicle accident in which she suffered severe impact to her head. The physician obtains laboratory tests, with the results shown below: Serum: Na+: 149 mEq/L Cl-: 103 mEq/L K+: 3.5 mEq/L HCO3-: 24 mEq/L BUN: 20 mg/dL Glucose: 105 mg/dL Urine Osm: 250 mOsm/kg The patient’s condition is most likely caused by inadequate hormone secretion from which of the following locations?

1 of 5

Flashcards: Concentration and dilution of urine

1/10

Both central and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus are characterized by _____ urine osmolality

TAP TO REVEAL ANSWER

Both central and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus are characterized by _____ urine osmolality

low

browseSpaceflip

Enjoying this lesson?

Get full access to all lessons, practice questions, and more.

Start Your Free Trial