The Kokko and Rector model is a theory explaining the mechanism of generation of a gradient in the
inner medulla of the
kidney
The kidneys are two reddish-brown bean-shaped organs found in vertebrates. They are located on the left and right in the retroperitoneal space, and in adult humans are about in length. They receive blood from the paired renal arteries; blood ...
. Unlike earlier theories explaining the mechanism using counter current mechanism (as is the case in the
outer medulla), the driving force for salt reabsorption is stated to be urea accumulation. It has been proved that counter current mechanism cannot be the case in the
inner medulla, since there are no salt pumps, and the
cell membrane
The cell membrane (also known as the plasma membrane (PM) or cytoplasmic membrane, and historically referred to as the plasmalemma) is a biological membrane that separates and protects the interior of all cells from the outside environment ( ...
is too
permeable to salt.
History
It has been proposed by JP Kokko and FC Rector Jr in 1972.
References
Further reading
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Renal physiology
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