Mechanics of Glomerular Ultrafiltration

Abstract

IN mammals, a fifth to a third of the large volume of plasma that enters the kidney is driven through the capillary walls of the glomerulus to form glomerular filtrate. Micropuncture technics have made it possible to sample this glomerular filtrate and have shown that its composition closely resembles that of an ideal ultrafiltrate of plasma. In recent years, much has been learned about the physiologic determinants of glomerular ultrafiltration. This discussion is intended to identify these determinants and to illustrate how each of them influences the ultrafiltration rate.Physiologic Determinants of Glomerular UltrafiltrationPlasma arrives at the glomerulus under . . .