Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2019 Apr 2.
Published in final edited form as: N Engl J Med. 2015 Apr 2;372(14):1349–1358. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra1404726

Figure 3. Renal Tubule.

Figure 3.

The segments shown in orange are targets for vasopressin regulation through the V2 receptor. Loop of Henle segments generate a corticomedullary osmolality gradient through the process of countercurrent multiplication. Connecting-tubule and collecting-duct segments are those that manifest regulated osmotic water transport through the action of vasopressin to regulate the water channel aquaporin-2. The macula densa is the point along the nephron where contact is made with the glomerulus of the same nephron. It provides a feedback signal (luminal sodium chloride concentration) that regulates the glomerular filtration rate to stabilize the sodium chloride concentration in the luminal fluid delivered to the distal convoluted tubule.