Question

One of the factors that causes materials to be filtered from the glomerulus is that the afferent arteriole has a _______ diameter than the efferent arteriole?

1) larger
2) smaller
3) equal
4) cannot be determined

Answer 1

The afferent arteriole has a larger diameter than the efferent arteriole, promoting higher blood pressure in the glomerulus and facilitating the filtration of blood to form the glomerular filtrate.

Step-by-step explanation:

One of the factors that contributes to the filtration of materials from the glomerulus is the size difference between the afferent and efferent arterioles. The correct answer to your question is that the afferent arteriole has a larger diameter than the efferent arteriole. This size difference creates a higher blood pressure in the glomerulus which promotes filtration.

The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is thus maintained and is a key indicator of kidney function. Moreover, the specialized membranes within the afferent arteriole with its leaky connections allow solutes to pass through easily by passive diffusion, except for macromolecules like proteins.