IB Biology Topic D3.3.9: Role of the Loop of Henle Notes

The Loop of Henle Builds the Kidney's Medullary Concentration Gradient

Imagine you are lost in a desert with very little water to drink.

Your body still has to make urine to remove waste, so how does it avoid losing too much water and letting you dehydrate?

The answer lies in the loop of Henle, the U-shaped section of the nephron that builds a high solute concentration deep in the kidney.

The Loop Has Two Limbs With Opposite Permeabilities

Definition

Loop of Henle

The loop of Henle is a U-shaped tube found in the nephron, the kidney’s functional unit. It is responsible for creating a concentration gradient in the medulla, enabling the production of concentrated urine.

The loop dips from the cortex down into the medulla and back, and it has two limbs.

Descending limb: permeable to water but not to salts.
Ascending limb: impermeable to water but pumps out sodium and chloride ions.

Note

The loop sits in the kidney's medulla, the region that becomes increasingly salty toward its tip.

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IB Biology Topic D3.3.9: Role of the Loop of Henle Notes

The Loop of Henle Builds the Kidney's Medullary Concentration Gradient

The Loop Has Two Limbs With Opposite Permeabilities

The Descending Limb Loses Water By Osmosis

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The Loop of Henle Builds the Kidney's Medullary Concentration Gradient

The Loop Has Two Limbs With Opposite Permeabilities

The Descending Limb Loses Water By Osmosis

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

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A - Unity and Diversity9 subtopics

B - Form and Function10 subtopics

C - Interaction and Interdependence9 subtopics

D - Continuity and Change12 subtopics

IB Biology Topic D3.3.9: Role of the Loop of Henle Notes

The Loop of Henle Builds the Kidney's Medullary Concentration Gradient

The Loop Has Two Limbs With Opposite Permeabilities

The Descending Limb Loses Water By Osmosis

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

The Loop of Henle Builds the Kidney's Medullary Concentration Gradient

The Loop Has Two Limbs With Opposite Permeabilities

The Descending Limb Loses Water By Osmosis

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

A - Unity and Diversity9 subtopics

B - Form and Function10 subtopics

C - Interaction and Interdependence9 subtopics

D - Continuity and Change12 subtopics