Tubular lumen

A tubular lumen is the continuous internal passage of a tube-shaped anatomical structure. In a renal tubule, its lining epithelium separates the tubular fluid from surrounding interstitial fluid. The apical membrane faces the tubular lumen, so movement along the tube and movement across its wall follow different paths.^[ref]

A straight cylinder gives a useful scale estimate. If the internal radius is $10\mu \mathrm{m}$ and the length is $1\mathrm{mm}$, the luminal volume isThis is an ideal geometric example; real renal tubules change shape and diameter along their length.

Experiments on isolated perfused collecting ducts exploit the same compartment distinction. Fluid is supplied through the tubular lumen, while a separate surrounding solution contacts the outside of the epithelium. Changing the conditions permits measurement of water crossing the wall. In a 1995 study, the increased membrane permeability during vasopressin exposure accompanied movement of aquaporin-2 toward the apical membrane.^[ref]