Essentials – Physiology of the Renal Tubular System

Why does a patient on furosemide end up needing a potassium supplement? In this episode we walk the length of the nephron— proximal tubule, loop of Henle, distal convoluted tubule, and collecting duct—and trace exactly how each segment reabsorbs and secretes to keep sodium, water, potassium, and acid-base in balance. Along the way we hit the transporters and drug targets that show up again and again on Step 1, from the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter that loop diuretics block to the aldosterone-driven potassium handling in the collecting duct. By the end, that furosemide-and-potassium puzzle will make complete sense.

Looking for more information on this topic? Check out the Physiology of the Renal Tubular System brick.

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