Free water is defined as distilled water that is free of solutes. In the nephron of the kidney, free water is generated in the diluting segments, which are the thick ascending limb and the early distal tubule. These sections are impermeable to water, thus solute is reabsorbed without water. Measurement of free water clearance provides a method for assessing the function of the kidney.
Free water clearance
Summary of Free water clearance
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Physiology
Renal system
Anatomy and physiology
Fluid compartments and homeostasis
Renal clearance, glomerular filtration and renal blood flow
Renal tubular reabsorption and secretion
Renal tubular physiology
Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
Renal electrolyte regulation
Renal sodium and water regulation
Renal endocrine functions
Acid-base physiology
High Yield Notes
7 pages
External Links
Free water clearance exam links
Sources
- "Medical Physiology" Elsevier (2016)
- "Physiology" Elsevier (2017)
- "Human Anatomy & Physiology" Pearson (2018)
- "Principles of Anatomy and Physiology" Wiley (2014)
- "The development of the clearance concept" J Nephrol (2004)
- "The current place of urea kinetic modelling with respect to different dialysis modalities" Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation (1998)