Amount of blood filtered in renal capsule per minute is known as?

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2018

Explanation

The question asks for the specific term for the volume of blood filtered in the renal (Bowman's) capsule per minute.
Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) is the precise physiological term for this process.
GFR represents the initial step of urine formation, where plasma is filtered from the glomerular capillaries.
The normal GFR in an adult is about 125 mL/min or 180 L/day, indicating a high rate of filtration.

Option A: This refers to the final urine output rate, not the initial filtration rate. Most of the filtrate (99%) is reabsorbed, so urine output is much lower than GFR.
Option B: Tidal volume is a respiratory parameter, measuring the volume of air moved during normal breathing. It is unrelated to kidney function.
Option C: This term is too general. While it could refer to Renal Blood Flow (RBF), RBF is the total blood volume passing through the kidneys (~1200 mL/min), not the filtered volume. GFR is a fraction of the renal plasma flow.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Definition of Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Monitoring GFR is crucial for assessing kidney function and diagnosing renal disease. A decline in GFR is a key indicator of kidney damage.
Nurses often collect 24-hour urine samples for creatinine clearance tests, which are used to estimate GFR.
Many drug dosages, especially for the elderly or those with known renal issues, must be adjusted based on the patient's GFR to prevent toxicity.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'blood filtered', 'renal capsule', and 'per minute'. This points to a rate of a specific process in the kidney.
Analyze the options. 'Tidal volume' is clearly from a different body system (respiratory) and can be eliminated immediately.
Differentiate between the remaining renal terms. 'Urine/minute' is output, 'Blood flow/minute' is total perfusion, and 'GFR' is filtration.
Recall the definition of urine formation. The first step is filtration of plasma in the glomerulus (within the renal capsule).
Match the definition to the correct term. The rate of this filtration process is known as the Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR).

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Physiology Guyton 4SAE Part 2B pp. 19-21, 21-23

E6 Pathology-Textbook of PATHOLOGYHarsh Mohan Part 3 (515-969) p. 147-149

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