NEETZoologyExcretory Products and their Elimination
How does the flow of blood in the vasa recta contribute to the production of a concentrated urine in mammals?
Options
- ABy transporting essential nutrients to the kidney
- BBy reabsorbing water in the cortex
- CBy maintaining a counter current pattern with the Henle’s loop
- DBy maintaining an acidic environment in the kidney
Correct answer
C. By maintaining a counter current pattern with the Henle’s loop
Step-by-step solution
Mammals have the ability to produce a concentrated urine. The Henle’s loop and vasa recta play a significant role in this. The flow of filtrate in the two limbs of Henle’s loop is in opposite directions and thus forms a counter current. The flow of blood through the two limbs of vasa recta is also in a counter current pattern. The proximity between the Henle’s loop and vasa recta, as well as the counter current in them help in maintaining an increasing osmolarity towards the inner medullary interstitium , i.e., fro