Osmosis video - Regulation of renal blood flow

Renal blood flow is regulated by the autonomic nervous system, hormones, and local autoregulation mechanisms. The autonomic nervous system, primarily the sympathetic nervous system, can increase or decrease renal blood flow by constricting or dilating renal arterioles. This is accomplished by the release of certain hormones. For example, adrenaline and angiotensin II increase arteriolar resistance and decrease renal blood flow, whereas atrial and brain natriuretic peptide decrease arteriolar resistance and increase renal blood flow. In autoregulation, the kidneys keep blood flow and the glomerular filtration rate constant, even when the blood pressure range changes.