The Kidneys Flashcards
1
Q
what are the roles of the kidneys?
A
- to eliminate nitrogenous wastes (urea)
- osmoregulation
- regulation of organic compounds
2
Q
why does the kidney eliminate urea?
A
the body cannot store excess proteins so the liver breaks them down
3
Q
what is the amino group (NH3) used for?
A
to form:
- urea
- uric acid
- creatinine
- ammonium ions
4
Q
what is osmoregulation?
A
osmoregulation is the regulation of the volume of water in the blood and body fluids
5
Q
what does hypertonic mean (in the kidneys)?
A
concentrated, lots of solutes, little water in the tissue fluid
6
Q
what does hypotonic mean (in the kidneys)?
A
too much water in the tissue fluids
7
Q
what does isotonic mean (in the kidneys)?
A
an equal amount of water and solutes in the tissue fluids
8
Q
what are the kidneys surrounded by and why?
A
they are surrounded by fat for protection
