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A long loop of Henle would result in which of the following?

1) a higher osmolarity in the deeper regions of the renal medulla and the ability to produce a more concentrated urine
2) a lower osmolarity in the deeper regions of the renal medulla and the ability to produce a more concentrated urine
3) a higher osmolarity in the deeper regions of the renal medulla and the ability to produce a more dilute urine
4) a lower osmolarity in the deeper regions of the renal medulla and the ability to produce a more dilute urine
5) a higher osmolarity in the renal cortex and the ability to produce a more dilute urine

User FiqSky
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Final answer:

A long loop of Henle leads to a higher osmolarity in the renal medulla and allows for the production of a more concentrated urine due to the countercurrent multiplier mechanism.

Step-by-step explanation:

A long loop of Henle would result in a higher osmolarity in the deeper regions of the renal medulla and the ability to produce a more concentrated urine. This is because the loop of Henle creates an osmotic gradient in the renal medulla that is essential for the concentration of urine. The descending limb of the loop of Henle, which is highly permeable to water, allows water to leave the filtrate and enter the interstitial fluid, thus increasing the osmolality of the filtrate as it descends. In contrast, the ascending limb is permeable to solutes but not to water, where Na+ and Cl- are actively reabsorbed, thereby reducing the osmolarity of the filtrate as it ascends. In this way, the countercurrent multiplier system functions efficiently to maximize water reabsorption and produce concentrated urine, especially in juxtamedullary nephrons with longer loops of Henle.

User Pit
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