Functions of parts of the kidney Flashcards
Renal artery
Brings blood to the kidney
Cortex
Filters large molecules from the blood, e.g. white blood cells, red blood cells, proteins
Medulla
Where glucose, amino acids, some water and some salts are reabsorbed back into the body or bloodstream
Renal pelvis
Collects urine
Ureter
Transports urine from kidney to bladder
Where are kidneys located?
Behind the abdomen and slightly above the navel
Function of the kidney
Cleans the blood and produces urine by removing excess water, excess salts and urea from the blood
What is excretion?
The removal of waste substances in excess from the body
Why do we need to excrete?
A build up of urea or carbon dioxide is toxic to the body
What affects the volume and concentration of urine produced?
Water intake, temperature and excercise
What happens when your body is short of water?
The kidneys produce small volumes of concentrated urine to help lose less water
What happens when your body has too much water?
Kidneys produce large volumes of dilute urine, which helps get rid of excess water
What is deamination?
The removal of the nitrogen containing part of amino acids in the liver to form urea
What is another function of the liver?
The assimilation of amino acids by converting them into proteins, including plasma proteins e.g. fribrinogen
Where is carbon dioxide excreted from?
Lungs
