Tubular fluid
Tubular fluid is a fluid that passes through the tubules of the kidney. It is initially identical to the blood plasma that enters the kidney, but as it passes through the tubules, its composition is altered by the absorption and secretion of various substances. The final product is urine, which is excreted from the body.
Composition[edit | edit source]
The composition of tubular fluid changes as it passes through the different parts of the nephron, the functional unit of the kidney. Initially, it is identical to the blood plasma, but it becomes more concentrated as water and various solutes are reabsorbed back into the bloodstream. The composition of the final urine is determined by the balance between these processes of reabsorption and secretion.
Function[edit | edit source]
The main function of the tubular fluid is to carry waste products and excess substances from the blood to be excreted in the urine. This process is crucial for maintaining the body's homeostasis, or stable internal environment. The kidneys also use the tubular fluid to regulate the body's balance of electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium, and calcium, and to control the pH of the blood by excreting hydrogen ions and reabsorbing bicarbonate ions.
Pathology[edit | edit source]
Abnormalities in the composition or volume of the tubular fluid can lead to various kidney diseases. For example, if the tubules are unable to reabsorb enough water, it can result in polyuria, or excessive urination, and dehydration. On the other hand, if the tubules reabsorb too much water, it can lead to oliguria, or reduced urination, and fluid overload. Other conditions, such as kidney stones, can occur if certain substances in the tubular fluid become too concentrated and form crystals.
See also[edit | edit source]
Tubular fluid Resources | |
---|---|
|
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD