Kidney Flashcards
What is the kidney responsible for?
• filtering out and re-absorbing metabolic waste
• maintaining a water salt-balance
• maintaining acid-base balance
What is the general pathway of the kidney?
• renal artery brings blood into the kidney
• was filtered out of the blood and into the nephron as filtrate
• blood continues out of the kidney through the renal vein
• filtrate (urine) leaves the kidney through the ureter
There are around 100 millions …….. what? in each of your kidneys?
• nephrons
What does the nephron do?
• re absorbs certain substances using diffusion and osmosis
Can small or large substances be dissolved through the nephron?
• only small / dissolved substances
Substances that can be re-absorbed into the blood include…
• glucose
• sodium and potassium into
• water
• bicarbonate ion (important in supporting the buffer system in the blood)
What is ADH and what does it do in the kidney?
• ADH is (anti diuretic hormone)
• INCREASES THE PERMEABILITY of the distal tubule and collecting duct. This allows water to leave the nephron and get reabsorbed back into the blood.
What are 2 examples of drinks that can act as diuretics? Why?
• caffeine
• alcoholic drinks
Reasoning:
• these substances PREVENTS THE EFFECTS of ADH and prevent the reabsorption of water from nephron. This increase of water in the nephron results in an increased need to urinate.
Osmotic pressure high vs. low in the kidney:
When osmotic pressure is HIGH…
• the hypothalamus stimulates the posterior pituitary and causes release of ADH (NOT A LOT OF WATER)
When osmotic pressure is LOW…
• the hypothalamus decreases the release of ADH from the posterior pituitary gland, resulting the release of more water from the body (A LOT OF WATER)
Where are your glands located on your kidney?
• on top
What does ADH do in the kidneys?
• helps regulate the amount of water in your body
