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Collecting duct cell
Make it clearer
Collecting ducts are microscopic tubes in the kidney that connect to several nephrons, the kidney's filtering units. Three types of cells line their wall: the principal cell and two intercalated cells, type A and type B.
The principal cell is the one that handles water and salts. On its apical face, the side that faces the tubular fluid, it has sodium channels and potassium channels, and aldosterone, a hormone, makes more of those channels appear so the cell reabsorbs sodium and secretes potassium. With antidiuretic hormone, that same face fills with water doorways called aquaporin-2, and the cell reabsorbs water. It is a valve that opens as needed.
The intercalated cells handle acid. Type A secretes it into the tubular fluid, and type B does the opposite: it secretes base.
In brief
Collecting ducts are microscopic kidney tubes that connect to several nephrons, and three cell types predominate in them: the principal cell and intercalated cells A and B.
The principal cell carries apical sodium and potassium channels, which aldosterone increases to reabsorb sodium and secrete potassium, and with antidiuretic hormone it inserts aquaporin-2 and reabsorbs water.
It is a valve that opens as needed.
The intercalated cells handle acid: type A secretes it into the tubular fluid and type B secretes base.
Sources (2)
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, StatPearls PublishingAnatomy, Abdomen and Pelvis: Kidney Collecting Ducts, StatPearlsPublished
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, StatPearls PublishingPhysiology, Vasopressin, StatPearlsPublished
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
Updated