The Kidneys (hormone)

• The Concentration of Urine is Controlled by a Hormone


  The concentration of urine is controlled by a hormone called anti-diuretic hormone (ADH)
• How the water content of the blood is regulated


  1. The brain detects the water content of the blood

  2. The brain instructs the pituitary gland to release ADH into the blood

  3. The amount of ADH released depends on the water content
• If the water content gets too high or too low


  A mechanism will be triggered that brings it back to normal
• Negative feedback control of water content

  1. A receptor in the brain detects the water content is too high

  2. The coordination centre in the brain receives the information and coordinates a response

  3. The pituitary gland releases less ADH, so less water is reabsorbed from the kidney tubules

  4. Water content decreases

  5. A receptor in the brain detects the water content is too low

  6. The coordination centre in the brain receives the information and coordinates a response

  7. The pituitary gland releases more ADH, so more water is reabsorbed from the kidney tubules

  8. Water content increases
• The Kidneys

  • They remove waste substances from the blood
  • If they don't work properly, waste substances build up in the blood and you lose your ability to control the levels of ions and water in your body
  • This eventually results in death
• Dialysis


  Machines do the job of the kidneys to keep people with kidney failure alive
• Kidney transplant


  An alternative treatment for kidney failure
• More ADH


  Less urine produced
• If you lose water (e.g. by sweating)


  More ADH is produced