Q. Which of these statements about the counter current mechanism is true?

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Solution:

The Henle's loop and vasa recta play a significant role in producing concentrated urine in mammals. 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., from 300 mOsmol/L in the cortex to about 1200 mOsmol/L in the inner medulla. This gradient is mainly caused by and urea. is transported by the ascending limb of Henle's loop which is exchanged with the descending limb of vasa recta. is returned to the interstitium by the ascending portion of vasa recta. Similarly, small amounts of urea enter the thin segment of the ascending limb of Henle's loop which is transported back to the interstitium by the collecting tubule.