Renal Clearance and Excretion Mechanisms

Flashcards that cover the key concepts related to renal clearance and the mechanisms of drug excretion in the kidney.

Renal Clearance

The proportionality factor that relates the renal elimination rate of a drug with the drug concentration in plasma.

Renal Extraction Ratio

The fraction of a drug passing by the kidneys which is eliminated by these organs, typically by excretion into urine.

Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)

The rate at which the glomerulus filters blood, averaging 120 milliliters per minute.

Renal Excretion

The process by which drugs are eliminated from the body through the kidneys.

Active Tubular Secretion

A process by which drugs not filtered through the glomerulus are actively transported into the renal tubule.

Tubular Reabsorption

The process by which substances are reabsorbed from the renal tubule back into the bloodstream.

Irreversible loss of drug

The loss of a drug from the body that cannot be reversed, primarily occurring through metabolic processes or excretion.

Metabolism

The process of transforming a drug into different chemical species, usually into metabolites, primarily occurring in the liver.

Filtration

A process of glomerular filtration where small molecules and drugs enter the renal tubule.

Clearance by Other Organs

The total clearance of a drug is the sum of the clearance by the kidneys and other organs such as the liver.

Creatinine Clearance

A measure used to estimate kidney function based on the rate of creatinine excretion.

Passive Reabsorption

The reabsorption of drugs back into the bloodstream that occurs without the use of energy, often depending on concentration gradients.

Transporters

Proteins that mediate the active secretion or reabsorption of drugs in the renal tubule.