What is the average glomerular filtration rate in adult males?

NHM UP Staff Nurse-2023 shift 1st

Applied Physiology

Easy

Appeared in: NHM UP Staff Nurse-2023 shift 1st

Explanation

The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the volume of fluid filtered from the glomerular capillaries into Bowman's capsule per unit time.
In a healthy average adult human male, the GFR is about 125 mL/minute or 180 Liters/day.
This value is considered the standard physiological benchmark for normal kidney excretory function.
GFR is directly proportional to body size and is typically corrected for body surface area.

Option A: This value is significantly lower than the standard average GFR for a healthy adult male.
Option B: While closer to the normal range, this value is still below the accepted standard average for adult males.
Option C: A GFR of 90 ml/min is the lower limit of the normal range. Consistently being at or below this level is often a threshold for diagnosing early-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD Stage 2 if it persists for over 3 months).

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Normal physiological values for Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses use GFR (often as estimated GFR or eGFR from blood tests) as a critical indicator of a patient's kidney function. It guides the assessment for kidney disease, monitoring of disease progression, and the need for interventions.
Many medications are cleared by the kidneys. A patient's GFR is essential for safe medication administration, as a lower GFR may require dose adjustments to prevent toxicity.
What if? - If a patient's eGFR is consistently below 60 mL/min/1.73m², they are diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Nursing care would then focus on managing symptoms, preventing complications like fluid overload and electrolyte imbalances, patient education on diet (e.g., protein, potassium, sodium restrictions), and preparing for potential renal replacement therapy.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'average glomerular filtration rate' and 'adult males'. This indicates the question is asking for a standard physiological value.
Recall the normal physiological parameters for kidney function. The GFR is a fundamental concept in renal physiology.
Access your knowledge base for the specific value for an adult male. The standard taught value is 125 ml/min.
Evaluate the given options. Compare them to the recalled standard value.
Eliminate options that are too low (90 ml/min, which is a clinical threshold for disease) or slightly lower than the standard male average (105 and 115 ml/min, which are closer to female averages or represent a decline).
Select the option that matches the standard physiological average for a healthy adult male.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Normal physiological values for Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)
Stem keywords: average, glomerular filtration rate, adult males
Lead-in keywords: What is

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