Clinical Physiology: Role in Studying Basic Problems of the Regulation of Renal Functions in Humans

Clinical physiology is described as a unique branch of human physiology that allows basic regulatory mechanisms of renal functions to be revealed. The analysis of physiological mechanisms that change the renal functions under the influence of endogenous or exogenous factors made it possible to detect new aspects of the regulatory system involved. The following problems are discussed: (1) the role of autacoids in the regulation of ion and water transport in the kidney; (2) the significance of functional loading tests for assessing the main components of the regulatory system of water and electrolyte balance; (3) the variety of sources of human blood hormones; and (4) the intranephron redistribution of water and electrolyte flows, which does not change their excretion by the kidney but affects the regulation of the totality of body functions.