PHAR 3244 – Spring 2026 Systems Pharmacology II

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and concepts from the lecture on kidney function, nephron structure, and related physiological processes.

Kidney

An organ that filters blood, regulates red blood cell production, blood pressure, acid-base balance, fluid, and electrolyte balance.

Nephron

The functional unit of the kidney, responsible for urine production, with over 1 million nephrons per kidney.

Glomerular filtration

The process by which hydrostatic pressure forces fluids and solutes through the filtration membrane of the glomerulus.

Reabsorption

The process whereby certain substances are recovered from the filtrate and returned to the blood.

Secretion

The process in which substances are moved from the peritubular capillaries into the tubule fluid.

Erythropoietin

A hormone released by the kidneys that stimulates red blood cell production in response to low oxygen levels.

Filtrate

Fluid in the renal tubules that is similar in composition to plasma but does not contain proteins.

Osmotic gradient

A difference in solute concentration that creates a gradient allowing water to be reabsorbed in the kidneys.

Aquaporins

Water-specific transmembrane channels crucial for water reabsorption in the renal tubules.

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR)

The volume of filtrate formed each minute by all glomeruli in the kidneys, an indicator of kidney function.

Countercurrent exchange

The mechanism that maintains the osmotic gradient in the renal medulla, allowing for the concentration of urine.

Myogenic mechanism

An intrinsic regulation mechanism that adjusts the resistance of the afferent arterioles to maintain GFR.

Tubuloglomerular feedback

A regulatory mechanism allowing for changes in GFR based on sodium chloride concentration detected by macula densa cells.

Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS)

A hormonal mechanism involved in the regulation of blood pressure and blood volume by triggering vasoconstriction and sodium reabsorption.

Nephrotic syndrome

A kidney disorder characterized by high levels of protein in the urine, low levels of protein in the blood, swelling, and increased risk of blood clots.