Renal glomerular filtration

Renal glomerular filtration is the initial passive process of urine formation in which water and small solutes in blood plasma are filtered through the capillaries of the glomerulus into Bowman’s capsule, forming the glomerular filtrate. The process is driven by hydrostatic pressure and modulated by the structure and charge-selectivity of the glomerular filtration barrier, which consists of fenestrated capillary endothelium, a negatively charged basement membrane, and podocyte slit diaphragms. Large proteins and cells are normally excluded. The rate of filtration, or glomerular filtration rate (GFR), is a key marker of kidney function and is regulated by renal blood flow, autoregulatory mechanisms, and neurohormonal pathways. Impairment of glomerular filtration is central in a variety of kidney diseases. Renal glomerular filtration is not a molecular target, receptor, or drug-binding entity; instead, it is a functional process, thus it does not fit the schema for molecular target information, and is_incorrect: true.

Other names

Glomerular filtrationRenal filtrationGlomerular ultrafiltration