ASN Renal Physiology – Structure and Function in Kidney Health and Disease 2022

Comprehensive Renal Physiology & Kidney Function Course (On-Demand + Livestream)

Build a strong foundation in modern nephrology with the ASN Renal Physiology – Structure and Function in Kidney Health and Disease 2022, an advanced educational program developed by the American Society of Nephrology (ASN).

This comprehensive course provides a detailed review of:

• Kidney structure and physiology
• Nephron function
• Renal development
• Tubular transport
• Glomerular biology
• Renal hemodynamics
• Volume and electrolyte regulation
• Hypertension mechanisms
• Kidney homeostasis
• Molecular nephrology
• Emerging renal research technologies

Through expert-led lectures, the program bridges:

• Basic renal science
• Translational nephrology
• Clinical kidney disease mechanisms
• Modern physiologic research

making it highly valuable for clinicians, fellows, researchers, and trainees seeking a deeper understanding of kidney structure-function relationships.

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Course Overview

The kidneys are among the most physiologically complex organs in the human body, regulating:

• Fluid balance
• Electrolytes
• Acid-base homeostasis
• Blood pressure
• Endocrine signaling
• Waste elimination
• Osmolality
• Hemodynamics

This ASN program delivers a detailed overview of:

How kidney structure directly determines renal function

The course explores:

• Renal ultrastructure
• Molecular transport systems
• Tubular physiology
• Glomerular filtration mechanisms
• Renal vascular regulation
• Developmental nephrology
• Integrated homeostatic pathways

while also highlighting:

• Disease mechanisms
• Congenital abnormalities
• Emerging diagnostic technologies
• Research advances in nephrology

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Course Details

📅 Release Year: 2022
🎥 Format: On-Demand + Livestream Presentations
🏢 Provider: American Society of Nephrology (ASN)
🧠 Focus: Renal Physiology, Kidney Structure & Function

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Educational Objectives

Upon completion of this program, participants should be able to:

✔️ Explain normal nephron and kidney development
✔️ Describe congenital abnormalities of the kidneys and urinary tract (CAKUT)
✔️ Outline nephron components and urine formation mechanisms
✔️ Discuss renal homeostasis and electrolyte regulation
✔️ Understand glomerular and tubular physiology
✔️ Explain renal endocrine functions and blood pressure regulation
✔️ Identify physiologic mechanisms underlying kidney disease
✔️ Explore emerging research questions in renal physiology

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Why Renal Physiology Matters

Modern nephrology increasingly depends on understanding:

• Molecular kidney biology
• Tubular transport physiology
• Renal hemodynamics
• Cellular signaling pathways
• Glomerular filtration mechanisms
• Kidney development and repair

A strong physiologic foundation is essential for understanding:

• Acute kidney injury
• Chronic kidney disease
• Electrolyte disorders
• Hypertension
• Proteinuria
• Tubular disorders
• Genetic kidney disease

This course was specifically designed to connect:

Basic kidney science with clinical nephrology practice

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Kidney Development & CAKUT

The course begins with:

Overview of Kidney Development

This section reviews:

• Embryologic nephron development
• Renal morphogenesis
• Congenital kidney abnormalities
• Nephron differentiation
• Developmental signaling pathways

Closely linked is:

Congenital Anomalies of the Kidney and Urinary Tract (CAKUT)

which discusses:

• Developmental defects
• Congenital nephropathies
• Structural malformations
• Pediatric renal disorders
• Genetic influences on kidney development

Understanding developmental nephrology is increasingly important in:

• Pediatric nephrology
• Genetic kidney disease
• Congenital renal disorders

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Glomerular Structure & Function

A major portion of the course focuses on:

Glomerular physiology

Topics include:

• Glomerular filtration barrier
• Podocyte biology
• Basement membrane structure
• Filtration dynamics
• Protein handling

The lecture:

Abnormalities of Glomerular Structure

reviews:

• Structural glomerular injury
• Proteinuria mechanisms
• Podocyte dysfunction
• Glomerular disease pathophysiology

These sessions provide essential understanding for:

• Glomerulonephritis
• Nephrotic syndrome
• CKD progression
• Proteinuric kidney disease

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Tubular Physiology & Segmental Function

One of the strongest aspects of the course is its detailed review of:

Nephron segment physiology

The course systematically explores:

• Proximal tubule
• Thick ascending limb
• Distal convoluted tubule
• Collecting duct
• Tubular transport systems

Each section discusses:

• Cellular transport mechanisms
• Electrolyte handling
• Water regulation
• Acid-base physiology
• Hormonal signaling

The lecture:

Defining Tubular Segments

helps clinicians understand:

• Functional nephron anatomy
• Molecular transport specialization
• Segment-specific disease mechanisms

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Tubule Homeostasis

The:

Tubule Homeostasis

lecture reviews:

• Solute transport
• Tubular adaptation
• Injury responses
• Tubulointerstitial physiology
• Cellular signaling pathways

This foundational knowledge is essential for understanding:

• Acute tubular injury
• Electrolyte disorders
• Tubular nephropathies
• Diuretic physiology

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Renal Vasculature & Hemodynamics

The course includes detailed discussion on:

Renal Vasculature and Hemodynamics

Topics include:

• Renal blood flow regulation
• Glomerular pressure dynamics
• Autoregulation
• Vascular signaling
• Filtration physiology

These mechanisms are critical in:

• Hypertension
• AKI
• CKD progression
• Ischemic kidney injury

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Volume, Osmolality & Electrolyte Control

A central component of kidney physiology involves:

Homeostatic regulation

The lecture:

Control of Volume and Osmolality

reviews:

• Water balance
• Sodium regulation
• Osmotic control
• ADH physiology
• Volume sensing systems

These concepts are fundamental for understanding:

• Hyponatremia
• Hypernatremia
• Volume overload
• Dehydration disorders

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Endocrine Functions of the Kidney

The kidneys also serve major endocrine roles, discussed in:

Endocrine Functions of the Kidneys

Topics include:

• Renin-angiotensin system
• Erythropoietin production
• Vitamin D metabolism
• Mineral balance
• Hormonal signaling

This section integrates:

• Nephrology
• Endocrinology
• Cardiovascular physiology

into a comprehensive understanding of kidney-mediated systemic regulation.

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Hypertension & Renal Physiology

The lecture:

Mechanisms of Hypertension and the Kidneys

reviews:

• Salt-sensitive hypertension
• Volume-mediated hypertension
• Aldosterone physiology
• Renal vascular mechanisms
• Neurohormonal regulation

Understanding renal contributions to hypertension is essential because:

• The kidneys are central regulators of blood pressure homeostasis
• Kidney dysfunction both causes and worsens hypertension

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Renal Interstitium

The course also explores:

The Renal Interstitium

including:

• Interstitial cell biology
• Fibrosis pathways
• Tubulointerstitial disease
• Inflammatory signaling
• CKD progression mechanisms

This is increasingly important in modern nephrology research.

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Emerging Technologies & Research

The livestream component highlights:

Cutting-edge renal research technologies

Topics include:

• Glomerular filtration barrier technologies
• Urinary single-cell profiling
• Extracellular vesicles
• Molecular nephrology research
• Biomarker discovery

These lectures provide insight into:

• Future nephrology diagnostics
• Precision medicine
• Translational kidney research

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Featured Faculty

The program includes internationally recognized nephrology experts including:

• Norman D. Rosenblum, MD
• Lloyd G. Cantley, MD, FASN
• David J. Salant, MBChB, MD
• Mitchell H. Rosner, MD, FASN
• Joseph G. Verbalis, MD
• Heather A. Drummond, PhD
• Katalin Susztak, MD, PhD
• Uta Erdbruegger, MD

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Key Topics Included

• Kidney development
• CAKUT
• Glomerular structure and function
• Tubular physiology
• Renal vasculature
• Hemodynamics
• Electrolyte homeostasis
• Volume regulation
• Osmolality
• Hypertension mechanisms
• Renal endocrine function
• Proximal tubule physiology
• Thick ascending limb
• Distal convoluted tubule
• Collecting duct
• Renal interstitium
• Single-cell profiling
• Extracellular vesicles
• Emerging nephrology technologies

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Who This Course Is For

This program is ideal for:

• Nephrologists
• Internal medicine physicians
• Nephrology fellows
• Researchers in kidney disease
• Academic nephrologists
• Residents and trainees
• Scientists interested in renal physiology

It is especially valuable for clinicians seeking:

• Advanced renal physiology review
• Molecular nephrology education
• Nephron function understanding
• Kidney disease pathophysiology training
• Academic nephrology preparation

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Final Perspective

The ASN Renal Physiology – Structure and Function in Kidney Health and Disease 2022 provides an outstanding deep-dive into modern renal physiology and nephron biology.

By integrating:

• Molecular kidney science
• Functional nephrology
• Developmental biology
• Tubular transport physiology
• Glomerular biology
• Hemodynamic regulation
• Homeostatic control systems
• Emerging renal research technologies

the course creates a comprehensive foundation for understanding both normal kidney function and kidney disease mechanisms.

For nephrologists, trainees, researchers, and clinicians interested in advanced nephrology education, this program offers a highly valuable and intellectually rich review of modern renal physiology and translational