Countercurrent multiplier system

Definition

The countercurrent multiplier system is a mechanism in the kidneys that concentrates urine, allowing for efficient reabsorption of water and salts. It involves the interaction between the flow of filtrate through the loop of Henle in the nephron and the surrounding blood vessels.

Related terms

Nephron: The functional unit of the kidney responsible for filtering blood and producing urine.

Loop of Henle: A long, U-shaped portion of the tubule that conducts urine within each nephron of the kidney, crucial for concentrating urine.

Osmolarity: A measure of solute concentration per unit volume of solvent; key in understanding how substances are reabsorbed in kidney function