Kidneys and homeostasis

• What is the primary function of the kidneys?

  Regulate water concentration and excrete waste
• What happens when the kidneys fail to work properly?

  Dialysis treatment or a transplant is required
• What are the two important functions of the kidneys?

  • Regulate water content in the blood
  • Excrete toxic waste products of metabolism
• Where are the kidneys located in the body?

  In the back of the abdomen
• How does blood reach the kidneys?

  Through the renal artery
• What does the renal artery carry?

  Blood to the kidneys
• What is the role of the aorta?

  It carries oxygenated blood from the heart
• What does the kidney regulate in the blood?

  Water and salt content
• What is urea?

  A nitrogenous waste product from protein breakdown
• What forms when excess water, salts, and urea are filtered?

  Urine
• How is urine transported from the kidneys?

  Through tubes called ureters
• What is the function of the bladder?

  Stores urine until expulsion
• How does urine exit the body?

  Through the urethra
• What happens to purified blood after passing through the kidneys?

  Returns to circulation via the renal vein
• What does the renal vein do?

  Takes blood away from the kidneys
• What is the vena cava's role?

  Carries deoxygenated blood to the heart
• What is the structure of the kidney related to its function?

  • Packed with around a million nephrons
  • Nephrons start in the cortex, loop into the medulla, and return to the cortex
  • Nephrons regulate water, salts, and remove urea from blood
• What is a nephron?

  Filtration unit of the kidney
• Where do nephrons start and end in the kidney?

  Start in the cortex and loop to the medulla
• What do nephrons regulate?

  Water, salts, and urea levels in blood
• What is the primary function of the kidneys?

  Regulate water concentration and excrete waste
• What happens when kidneys fail to work properly?

  Dialysis treatment or a transplant is required
• What is the nephron's role in the kidneys?

  • Functional unit of the kidney
  • Filters blood and forms urine
  • Involved in reabsorption of substances
• What surrounds the Bowman’s capsule?

  A ball of capillaries
• What are capillaries?

  Tiny blood vessels with one-cell thick walls
• What is created by the diameter difference in capillaries?

  High pressure in the capillary knot
• What is ultrafiltration?

  Process filtering water and small molecules from blood
• What substances are filtered out during ultrafiltration?

  Water, ions, glucose, and small molecules
• Why can't proteins and blood cells leave the capillaries?

  They are too big to pass through
• What is the role of the rest of the tubule?

  Selective reabsorption of glucose, salts, and water
• What does the collecting duct do?

  Reabsorbs water and sends urine to ureter
• What is the function of anti-diuretic hormone (ADH)?

  • Regulates water balance in the body
  • Increases water reabsorption in kidneys
  • Helps concentrate urine
• What are the consequences of kidney disease?

  • Impaired waste excretion
  • Fluid imbalance
  • Potential need for dialysis or transplant
• What is the process of dialysis?

  • Artificially removes waste from blood
  • Maintains fluid and electrolyte balance
  • Used when kidneys are not functioning
• Bowman's capsule

  
• What is the role of the kidneys in homeostasis?

  Regulate water concentration and excrete waste
• What happens when kidneys fail to work properly?

  Dialysis treatment or a transplant is required
• What is anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) responsible for?

  • Controls water content in blood
  • Released by a gland in the brain
  • Varies according to blood plasma concentration
• What does blood plasma contain?

  Glucose, amino acids, minerals, vitamins, hormones
• How does excess drinking affect blood concentration?

  It increases water content in the blood