What is unique about the efferent arteriole in the renal circulation compared to most other systemic arterioles?
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Correct answer: It connects two capillary beds in a portal-like system
The efferent arteriole carries blood away from the glomerular capillaries and leads into a second capillary network (peritubular capillaries or vasa recta). This arrangement constitutes an arterial portal system.
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More Renal Blood Supply questions
- The peritubular capillary network primarily surrounds which part of the nephron in cortical nephrons?
- The 'vasa recta' are specialized capillary loops that arise primarily from the efferent arterioles of:
- Which of the following describes the histological structure of the glomerular capillaries?
- What is the physiological significance of the 'arteriolar-capillary-arteriolar' arrangement in the kidney?
- The 'stellate veins' of the kidney are located:
- Which vein directly receives blood from both the vasa recta and the interlobular veins?