Ascending limb of loop of Henle
| Ascending limb of loop of henil | |
|---|---|
 Scheme of renal tubule and its vascular supply. (Labeled at center left.) | |
 Nephron ion flow diagram | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | tubulus rectus distalis, pars recta tubuli distalis |
| Dorlands /Elsevier | t_22/12830078 |
| FMA | 17717 |
The ascending limb of loop of Henle is a segment of the nephron in the kidney divided into a thin and thick ascending limb (also known as distal straight tubule).
Structure
The ascending limb of the loop of Henle is a direct continuation from the descending limb of loop of Henle, and one of the structures in the nephron of the kidney. The ascending limb has a thin and a thick segment. The ascending limb drains urine into the distal convoluted tubule.
The thin ascending limb is found in the medulla of the kidney, and the thick ascending limb can be divided into a part that is in the renal medulla and a part that is in the renal cortex. The ascending limb is much thicker than the descending limb.
Histology
As in the descending limb, the epithelium is simple squamous epithelium. [1]
Function
Thin ascending limb
The thin ascending limb is impermeable to water and ions, except sodium and chloride which cross by diffusion.
Thick ascending limb
Functionally, the parts of the ascending limb in the medulla and cortex are very similar.
The medullary ascending limb remains impermeable to water. Sodium (Na+), potassium (K+) and chloride (Cl−) ions are reabsorbed by active transport. K+ is passively transported along its concentration gradient through a K+ leak channel in the apical aspect of the cells, back into the lumen of the ascending limb. This K+ "leak" generates a positive electrochemical potential difference in the lumen. This drives more paracellular reabsorption of Na+, as well as other cations such as magnesium (Mg2+) and importantly calcium Ca2+ due to charge repulsion.
This is also the part of the tubule that generates Tamm-Horsfall protein. The function of this protein is not well understood, but is responsible for creating urinary casts.
Clinical significance
The thick ascending limb is the site of action of Loop diuretics such as furosemide block the K+/Na+/2Cl− co-transporter.
See also
References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
- ↑ Pawlina, Wojciech and Ross, Michael. Histology: A text and Atlas. 5th ed. N.p: Clipping,2006. 663+.Print.
External links
- Physiology: 7/7ch07/7ch07p11 - Essentials of Human Physiology
- Histology image: 15804loa – Histology Learning System at Boston University
- Overview at vet.cornell.edu
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