Renal Module
Reading Outcomes
At the end of class on March 18, 2020, you should be able to:
- Briefly describe what happens in the five (5) main parts of a nephrone: glomerulus, proximal tubule, loop of Henle, distal tubule, collecting duct.
- Explain the normal physiological role and the five (5) functions of kidneys:
- urine formation
- excretion of metabolic waste products (urea and creatinine)
- regulation of fluid and electrolyte balance
- regulation of acid-base balance
- production of hormones (erythropoietin, renin, calcitriol)
- Explain the utility of the following test in the context of renal function (e.g., what information does it provide? when might the test result be abnormal?):
- urine: volume, microscopy, osmolality, dipstick (e.g., for protein or RBCs)
- serum: albumin, total protein, sodium, potassium, creatinine
- blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
- creatinine clearance rate
- Briefly describe the causes, pathophysiology and symptoms (also think about which clinical tests above are appropriate for investigation) of the following common renal function disorders:
- nephritic syndrome
- nephrotic syndrome
- acute renal failure
- chronic renal failure
- Given a case study, defend the most probable diagnosis with physiological explanations of the clinical findings and laboratory test results
Please note that this reading resource alone may NOT address all of the listed module reading outcomes above. Additional research and independent learning may be necessary to fully prepare for class.
