Afferent arterioles
The afferent arterioles are a group of blood vessels that supply the nephrons in many excretory systems. They play an important role in the regulation of blood pressure as a part of the tubuloglomerular feedback mechanism.
| Afferent arterioles | |
|---|---|
 Scheme of renal tubule and its vascular supply. (Label "Afferent vessel" is visible in upper left.) | |
 Distribution of bloodvessels in cortex of kidney. | |
| Details | |
| From | interlobular artery |
| Supplies | glomerular capillaries |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | arteriola glomerularis afferens |
| TA | A08.1.03.005 |
| FMA | 272216 77042, 272216 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
The afferent arterioles branch from the renal artery, which supplies blood to the kidneys.
The afferent arterioles later diverge into the capillaries of the glomerulus.
Regulation
When renal blood flow is reduced (indicating hypotension) or there is a decrease in sodium or chloride ion concentration, the macula densa of the distal tubule releases prostaglandins (mainly PGI2 and PGE2) and nitric oxide, which cause the juxtaglomerular cells lining the afferent arterioles to release renin, activating the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system, to increase blood pressure and increase reabsorption of sodium ions into the bloodstream via aldosterone.[1]
The macula densa cell can also increase the blood pressure of the afferent arterioles by decreasing the synthesis of adenosine or ATP.[2]
If the afferent arterioles are constricted then the blood pressure in the capillaries of the kidneys will drop.
Additional images
Malpighian corpuscle.
Glomerulus.
Renal corpuscle
References
External links
- Nosek, Thomas M. Essentials of Human Physiology. Section 7/7ch03/7ch03p10 - "Renal Vasculature: Efferent Arterioles & Peritubular Capillaries"
- Anatomy photo: Urinary/mammal/vasc0/vasc2 - Comparative Organology at University of California, Davis - "Mammal, renal vasculature (EM, Low)"
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