Functions of the kidneys

Question 1

What is the main function of the kidneys?

Answer 1

The kidneys remove waste products from the bloodstream and convert them to urine

Question 2

Why is urine sent to the bladder? What happens after this?

Answer 2

Urine is sent to the bladder for storage and is excreted through the urethra

Question 3

What do the kidneys control?

Answer 3

They control the water content of the body and the salt concentration of the body fluids. They control the pH of the body fluids

Question 4

How do the kidneys control the water content of the body?

Answer 4

They do this by varying the water content of the urine.

Question 5

How do the kidneys control the salt concentration of the body fluids?

Answer 5

By varying the amount of salt released in the urine

Question 6

By ensuring the water and salt concentrations, what does this ensure?

Answer 6

the kidneys ensure that the blood plasma (and as a result, all body fluids) has the same concentration as normal body cells

Question 7

The kidneys ensure that the blood plasma has the same concentration as normal body cells. What does this mean for these cells?

Answer 7

The cells bathed by these fluids do not have problems gaining or losing water by osmosis. For this reason, the kidneys are said to regulate osmosis or to be osmoregulatory.

Question 8

How do the kidneys regulate osmosis?

Answer 8

The kidneys ensure that the blood plasma has the same concentration as normal body cells.

Question 9

How do the kidneys control the pH of body fluids?

Answer 9

By producing urine that is either more or less acidic. This allows the pH of the blood to remain at its normal value of 7.4