Nephron Information and Courses from MediaLab, Inc.
These are the MediaLab courses that cover Nephron and links to relevant pages within the course.
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| What is the primary functional unit of the kidney: | View Page |
| The nephron includes all of the following except: | View Page |
| What is the primary functional unit of the kidney : | View Page |
| Diseases Associated with Proteinuria Normal urine contains very little protein, usually less than 10mg/dL, and the major serum protein that is found in normal urine is albumin. The presence of an increased amount of protein in the urine (proteinuria) can be an indicator of renal disease. The two mechanisms which can lead to proteinuria are glomerular damage or a defect in the reabsorption process of the tubules in the nephron. The concentration of protein in the urine is not necessarily indicative of the severity of renal disease. | View Page |
| Match the following: | View Page |
| Waxy Casts Waxy casts appear as cylinders of smooth, highly refractive material. They are yellow, homogeneous and their ends may be square or broken off. Cracks may occur within the cast, giving it a segmented appearance. Waxy casts are believed by some to be the final stage of degeneration of the fine granules of granular casts. Since the granules need time to degrade, this finding implies localized nephron obstruction. Waxy casts are seen in chronic renal failure, and acute and chronic renal allograft rejection. Unusually broad waxy casts are known as renal failure casts. These very broad casts are created in the dilated tubules seen in end-stage renal disease. | View Page |
| Red Cell Casts Red cell casts appear as clear cylinders containing red blood cells and may have an orange red tinge. Their presence indicates bleeding into the nephron.
Red cells within the cast are rapidly hemolyzed and the cast becomes a hemoglobin cast, having an orange color and a homogeneous ground-glass texture. In order for a cast to be considered an RBC cast, the outline of the red cells must be clearly visible in at least one area of the cast. | View Page |
| White Cell Casts White cell casts appear as clear cylinders containing leukocytes. They are associated with infection or inflammation of the nephron. | View Page |