Purpose of review: This review summarizes recent literature highlighting the roles of chemical and mechanical sensory receptors in renal function.
Recent findings: Both chemoreceptors and mechanoreceptors play important roles in renal physiology; here, we discuss specific examples of both chemoreceptors and mechanoreceptors in the kidney.
Summary: In order to maintain homeostasis, the kidney uses sensory receptors to assess the composition and rate of flow of the forming urine. Understanding the roles of these receptors will help us to better understand how the kidney functions both in health and in disease.