Straight arterioles of kidney
| General Information | |
|---|---|
| Latin | arteriolae rectae renis |
| Greek | |
| TA98 | |
| TA2 | |
| FMA | |
| Details | |
| System | Urinary system |
| Artery | |
| Vein | Straight venules of kidney |
| Nerve | |
| Lymphatic drainage | |
| Precursor | |
| Function | |
| Identifiers | |
| Clinical significance | |
| Notes | |
The straight arterioles of kidney, also known as the vasa recta renis, are a series of blood vessels in the kidney that play a crucial role in the urinary system. These arterioles are responsible for supplying blood to the renal medulla, the innermost part of the kidney.
Structure[edit | edit source]
The straight arterioles arise from the efferent arterioles of the juxtamedullary nephrons. Unlike the cortical nephrons, which have efferent arterioles that form a dense network of capillaries around the renal cortex, the juxtamedullary nephrons have efferent arterioles that descend into the renal medulla to form the vasa recta.
The vasa recta are divided into two types:
- Descending vasa recta: These vessels carry blood from the efferent arterioles into the renal medulla.
- Ascending vasa recta: These vessels return blood from the renal medulla to the renal vein.
Function[edit | edit source]
The primary function of the straight arterioles is to maintain the osmotic gradient in the renal medulla, which is essential for the kidney's ability to concentrate urine. This is achieved through a process known as the countercurrent exchange mechanism.
The descending vasa recta allow water to leave the blood and solutes to enter, while the ascending vasa recta allow solutes to leave and water to enter. This exchange helps to preserve the high osmolarity of the medullary interstitium, which is necessary for the reabsorption of water from the collecting ducts.
Clinical significance[edit | edit source]
Disruption in the function of the straight arterioles can lead to renal medullary hypoxia and contribute to conditions such as acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease. Understanding the role of the vasa recta is important in the context of renal physiology and pathophysiology.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
External links[edit | edit source]
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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
