Love your kidneys Flashcards
What is included in the urinary system
kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra
Summary of renal functions
- Regulation of ECF volume and composition
- Elimination of endogenous waste products
- Kidneys eliminate foreign substances
- Kidneys have endocrine functions
What is the most important function of the kidney
homeostatic maintenance of ECF volume and composition
Why is water balance crucial
It is the solvent of ICF and ECF
What else does the kidney regulate
The electrolyte composition of the ECF
Failure to eliminate waste products
Can cause serious disease and even death if no interventions are made
kidneys eliminate foreign substances
Such as:
- drugs
- food additives
- pesticides
Erythropoietin (EPO)
Acts on bone marrow to enhance the synthesis of red blood cells
Renin
substance involved in the autoregulation of the kidney
What is the superiour surface of the kidney capped by
adrenal gland
What is the basic unit of the kidney
nephron
How many nephrons are in 2 kidneys
2.5 million
What % of total cardiac output do they kidneys receive
20-25%
Roughly how much blood flows through kidneys each minute
1200ml
How do they kidneys receive blood
renal artery
basic renal processes
- Filtration
- reabsorption
- secretion
Filtration
The formation of glomerular capillaries of an essentially protein-free filtrate of plasma