MRCP UK EXAMINATIONS

Detailed explanation-1: -Blood enters the glomerulus through the afferent arteriole at the vascular pole, undergoes filtration in the glomerular capillaries, and exits the glomerulus through the efferent arteriole at the vascular pole.

Detailed explanation-2: -Filtrate is produced by the glomerulus when the hydrostatic pressure produced by the heart pushes water and solutes through the filtration membrane. Glomerular filtration is a passive process as cellular energy is not used at the filtration membrane to produce filtrate.

Detailed explanation-3: -The glomerulus is surrounded by the Bowman’s capsule, and filtrate is forced into the Bowman’s capsule. Fluid exchange in the Bowman’s capsule is governed by the same Starling’s forces operating in the glomerulus.

Detailed explanation-4: -It is because the afferent arteriole, which delivers blood to the glomerulus, has little vascular resistance because it is short and wide. So the pressure decrease is smaller compared to other tissues. And the pressure in capillaries of glomeruli is so high because it is specialized for filtration.

Detailed explanation-5: -Increases in the glomerular capillary hydrostatic pressure cause increases in net filtration pressure and GFR. However, increases in Bowman space hydrostatic pressure causes decreases in filtration pressure and GFR. This may result from ureteral constriction.