Is countercurrent a multiplier?
Is countercurrent a multiplier?
The counter-current multiplier or the countercurrent mechanism is used to concentrate urine in the kidneys by the nephrons of the human excretory system. The nephrons involved in the formation of concentrated urine extend all the way from the cortex of the kidney to the medulla and are accompanied by vasa recta.
What is the countercurrent exchange system?
Countercurrent exchange is a mechanism occurring in nature and mimicked in industry and engineering, in which there is a crossover of some property, usually heat or some chemical, between two flowing bodies flowing in opposite directions to each other.
What is countercurrent multiplier in loop of Henle?
The loop of Henle utilizes the countercurrent multiplier system to increase the concentration of solute and ions within the interstitium of the medulla. This ultimately allows the nephron to reabsorb more water and concentrate the urine while at the same time using as little energy as possible.
Why is it called countercurrent multiplier?
The structure of the loop of Henle and associated peritubular capillary create a countercurrent multiplier system (Figure 25.6. 1). The countercurrent term comes from the fact that the descending and ascending loops are next to each other and their fluid flows in opposite directions (countercurrent).
Where is countercurrent multiplier?
the kidney
countercurrent multiplier system An active process occurring in the loops of Henle in the kidney, which is responsible for the production of concentrated urine in the collecting ducts of the nephrons.
How does the countercurrent multiplier work?
Countercurrent multiplication in the kidneys is the process of using energy to generate an osmotic gradient that enables you to reabsorb water from the tubular fluid and produce concentrated urine.
Why is countercurrent exchange more efficient?
Counter Flow Heat Exchanger This distributes the heat more evenly across the heat exchanger and allows for maximum efficiency. In theory, the cold fluid can exit the heat exchanger at a higher temperature than the temperature of the hot fluid outlet, although in reality this is very difficult to achieve.
What does counter current mean?
: a current flowing in a direction opposite that of another current.
Where does countercurrent multiplication occur?
What does it do? occurs by facilitated diffusion in the medullary collecting duct. It accumulates in the inner medulla and contributes to the hypertonic ISF.
Why is countercurrent exchange more efficient than countercurrent exchange of gases in fishes?
The maximum amount of oxygen that the blood could pick up would be only half of the total amount of oxygen in the water. In contrast, countercurrent oxygen exchange allows the blood to pick up 90 percent of the oxygen in the water.
What is the most efficient heat exchanger?
Plate exchanger is the most efficient due to turbulent flow on both sides. High heat-transfer coefficient and high turbulence due to even flow distribution are important. However, a plate heat exchanger regenerator is restricted to low viscosities. With high viscosities, a special tubular may be required.
Where does countercurrent exchange occur in the nephron?
loops of Henle
Although both cortical and juxtamedullary nephrons regulate the concentrations of solutes and water in the blood, countercurrent multiplication in the loops of Henle of juxtamedullary nephrons is largely responsible for developing the osmotic gradients that are needed to concentrate urine.