title: Glomerular vascular resistance to blood flow: a brief review.
abstract: It is accepted that glomerular vascular resistance to blood flow is represented by a pressure drop of only a few mm Hg, but the hemodynamic basis for this concept is generally not well known. Our purpose is to review the evidence supporting the low resistance concept and to provide an explanation based on the fact that the glomerular network consists of 20-40 capillary loops placed 'in parallel' which markedly reduce the viscous resistance to flow (analogous to electrical circuits). A low pressure drop in the glomerular capillaries would be significant in filtration function.
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Badeer
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Petzel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000502:physiology*; D012079:Renal Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology*