USMLE/COMLEX 1 - Renal System - Physiology Questions

Physiology > Renal > USMLE/COMLEX 1 - Prep Questions

Q. Edema, severe proteinuria and decreased serum albumin levels are the hallmark characteristics of Nephrotic Syndrome. The syndrome results from damage to the glomerular capillary wall. In particular, the glomerular basement membrane is essential for maintaining serum oncotic pressure. Therefore, someone with healthy kidneys would not show any of those symptoms. In the non-pathologic state, which of the following properties of the glomerular basement membrane prevent albumin from being freely filtered into the urine?

A combination of small pore size and negatively charged pore-forming molecules prevents albumin filtration
A combination of small pore size and positively charged pore-forming molecules prevents albumin filtration
Albumin is freely filtered across the basement membrane but is readily reabsorbed along the nephron
The positive charge of proteoglycans in the basement membrane repels albumin
The small size of the glomerular basement membrane pores excludes albumin molecules
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