Glomerular filtration: What drives it?

Every day, the kidneys filter around 180 litres of fluid from the bloodstream, yet only a tiny fraction is ultimately excreted as urine. What forces drive this enormous filtration process, and how do the kidneys control it so precisely? In this lecture, we explore the structure of the glomerular filtration barrier and the pressures that determine filtration, including hydrostatic pressure, oncotic pressure and Bowman's capsule pressure. We also examine net filtration pressure, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and the factors that influence normal kidney function and renal disease.