How are contercurrent mechanisms involved in osmoregulation?

Expert Solution

Osmoregulation is defined as regulating osmotic balance in blood.
Kidneys are main organs involved in regulation of osmotic balance.
The nephron consists of tubules that are arranged parallel to each other but run in opposite direction. These tubules are separated by interstitial space which contains interstitial fluid.
The descending limb of the loop of Henle is permeable to waterand impermeable to ions and other substances. This results in water movement across the tubular wall into the medullary space. The hypertonic filtrate then passes to ascending limb.
Ascending limb is impermeable to water and permeable to solutes. This will cause solutes to move out into the medullary space making the interstitial fluid hypotonic. This will attract water. This will develop countercurrent mechanism.
The active transport of ions from the thick ascending limb will create osmotic pressure. This causes water from the descending limb to move into medullary space and makes the filtrate hypertonic.
The countercurrent flow within the descending and ascending limb will increase osmotic gradient between tubular fluid and interstitial space and maintain osmotic balance.

Sydney Mullin answered 1 year ago

5. Explain how osmoregulation in fresh water fish differs from osmoregulation in marine fish. 6. What...

5. Explain how osmoregulation in fresh water fish differs from osmoregulation in marine fish. 6. What do the terms stenohaline and euryhaline mean? Give examples of animals that match these terms. 7. Describe the four stages of urine production in vertebrates.

Describe the possible mechanisms involved in the development of atherosclerosis. Describe mechanisms of development of atheroschlerosis....

Describe the possible mechanisms involved in the development of atherosclerosis. Describe mechanisms of development of atheroschlerosis. Discuss the major risk factors for atherosclerosis. Describe the major complications of atherosclerosis. Discus the arterial involvement in atherosclerosis. List the clinical manifestations of atherosclerosis.

Homeostasis and Osmoregulation. Then research osmoregulation in Salmon, which spend part of their lives in salt...

Homeostasis and Osmoregulation. Then research osmoregulation in Salmon, which spend part of their lives in salt water and part in fresh water. To complete this assignment prepare a document that includes the following 1) a definition of homeostasis and osmoregulation (2) an explanation of how a stimulus, receptor and effector work together to maintain homeostasis and (3) a brief explanation of osmoregulation in salmon in both fresh water and salt water

Whar are the factors, processes, and mechanisms involved in antimicrobial resistance?

Explain the process of osmoregulation. (3)

Describe how the kidney is important for osmoregulation in vertebrates. If you compared a kidney in...

Describe how the kidney is important for osmoregulation in vertebrates. If you compared a kidney in a desert rodent to a rodent that lives in a more water-rich environment how might they differ?

How do nerves contribute to the regulation of osmoregulation? How do muscles contribute to the regulation...

How do nerves contribute to the regulation of osmoregulation? How do muscles contribute to the regulation of osmoregulation? How does cell signalling contribute to the regulation of Osmoregulation?

Discuss the mechanisms involved in the formation of the glomerular filtrate, its composition and the regulation...

Discuss the mechanisms involved in the formation of the glomerular filtrate, its composition and the regulation of its rate of formation, the GFR.

Describe why Histidine is often found in active sites and is involved in the catalytic mechanisms...

Describe why Histidine is often found in active sites and is involved in the catalytic mechanisms of enzymes. What role does it generally play in catalytic mechanisms? Draw an example of a catalytic mechanism that involves Histidine as a critical amino acid residue.

In your own words, describe three mechanisms of transcriptional regulation, that are involved in controlling the...

In your own words, describe three mechanisms of transcriptional regulation, that are involved in controlling the rate of expression of hydrolytic enzymes associated with lysosomes. For each mechanism described, include whether the rate of expression would be increased or decreased.

Question