Ascending Limb

Lucien Rizzo

The ascending loop of Henle is referred to as “the diluting segment”

Receive:

  • Hypertonic filtrate

Process:

  • Reabsorbs Na+, Cl-, and K+ via a cotransporter.
    • Na+/K+/2Cl- symporter and Na+/H+ antiporter readily absorb solutes

Produce:

  • Lumen of the ascending limb is impermeable to water.
  • Solutes are reabsorbed while water is trapped in the lumen, causing the filtrate to become hypotonic.

Export:

  • Hypotonic filtrate (~100-200 mOsm/L)