A geometric model of the rat kidney.

Firstly details are collected concerning the required parameters of a simple linear regression in order to evaluate statistically results of measurements, which can also be present in the form (chii, yi +/- SDi). In this way lines of regression are determined for connections between the kidney weight and the body weight, between the lengths of the proximal tubules (and the proximal convolution) of the three various types of nephron and the kidney weight, between the length of the distal convoluted tubule, likewise the number of glomerula, and the kidney weight and finally between the single nephron filtration rate and the length of the proximal tubule. Starting from a model body weight for the rat of 200 g and considering the percentage of thin segments in the tissue of the renal pyramid, a loop of Henle with a length of 8.1 mm for the thin part and a length of 2.4 mm for the ascending thick limb was calculated for the model nephron from the lengths of the loops of the three types of nephrons. In contrast to former model formulations concerning the collecting duct system, the tree-like branched structure was considered for the first time and a linear approximation to the relation between both the circumference line and the cross section area and the lenggh of the collecting ducts was determined. The geometric model relates only to the tubular system and takes no notice of the blood vessels.