The basement membrane of the epithelial lining of capillaries in the kidney can thicken over time in patients with untreated diabetes mellitus. What could be a consequence of this thickening?
A) Substances would have a difficult time traveling between the capillaries and the functional structures of the kidney, leading to a failure of the kidney to function.
B) Substances would travel more easily between the capillaries and functional structures of the kidney.
C) The kidney would become more structurally stable due to the excess tissue in the basement membrane.
D) The epithelium of these capillaries would change from stratified squamous to stratified columnar as the basement membrane thickens.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The thickening of the basement membrane would create a barrier that would obstruct the passage of substances, and as such, hinder kidney function. This condition is known as diabetic nephropathy.

The Basement Membrane of the Epithelial Lining of Capillaries in the Kidney