THE KIDNEYS: Renal Functions
Functions of the Kidney:
Elimination of waste products (metabolic byproducts) and conservation of important substances.
→ Filters the blood to be recirculated and waste products formed are eliminated through
urine.
Regulation of body fluids.
→ Kidney’s can also have the ability to filter substances of the body to be reused again.
Acid-base balance (in cooperation with the lungs).
Electrolyte balance.
Maintenance of blood pressure.
Erythropoiesis.
→ Produces Erythropoietin (in response hypoxia/ low blood supply to the tissues).
→ Erythropoietin will be released by the Kidneys due to hypoxia which will then target the
bone marrow, stimulating it to produce more red blood cells increasing the rate of
oxygenation.
Despite their relatively small size, the kidneys receive approximately 25% of the cardiac output
(25% of the blood being pumped by the Heart).
Kidneys must have a stable and ample blood supply. No blood supply to the kidneys will cause kidney
failure.
An individual human has 2 kidneys (left and right).
By location, the Kidneys are termed to be retroperitoneal/retroperitoneum (at the back of the
peritoneal cavity)
Doctors pound the surface of the skin just above where the kidneys are located called as the flank
to detect a sign for infection/nephritis/UTI if the patient feels pain.
, There is a pair of kidneys found in a normal individual.
The kidney located at the right is slightly lower, this is to make space/adjust due to the liver which
is a large organ located near it.
The kidneys are part of the urinary system which mainly functions to filtrate the blood and produce
urine.
Looking at the picture, just above the kidneys are the suprarenal (meaning above) glands/ adrenal
glands.
Kidneys
Ureters
Urinary bladder
Urethra
In the Kidneys production of urine occurs then, urine produced travels via the ureters the urine will be
transported by the ureters to the urinary bladder for temporary storage once urine shall be voided out, it
shall pass the urethra in the process called as micturition/urination.
The kidneys have an area called as the hilus, here the renal artery enters and delivers blood to the
kidneys. Blood also exits the kidney via the renal vein. Consequently, the renal vein and the ureter
exits via the hilus as well, that is why it is an important structure.
Functions of the Kidney:
Elimination of waste products (metabolic byproducts) and conservation of important substances.
→ Filters the blood to be recirculated and waste products formed are eliminated through
urine.
Regulation of body fluids.
→ Kidney’s can also have the ability to filter substances of the body to be reused again.
Acid-base balance (in cooperation with the lungs).
Electrolyte balance.
Maintenance of blood pressure.
Erythropoiesis.
→ Produces Erythropoietin (in response hypoxia/ low blood supply to the tissues).
→ Erythropoietin will be released by the Kidneys due to hypoxia which will then target the
bone marrow, stimulating it to produce more red blood cells increasing the rate of
oxygenation.
Despite their relatively small size, the kidneys receive approximately 25% of the cardiac output
(25% of the blood being pumped by the Heart).
Kidneys must have a stable and ample blood supply. No blood supply to the kidneys will cause kidney
failure.
An individual human has 2 kidneys (left and right).
By location, the Kidneys are termed to be retroperitoneal/retroperitoneum (at the back of the
peritoneal cavity)
Doctors pound the surface of the skin just above where the kidneys are located called as the flank
to detect a sign for infection/nephritis/UTI if the patient feels pain.
, There is a pair of kidneys found in a normal individual.
The kidney located at the right is slightly lower, this is to make space/adjust due to the liver which
is a large organ located near it.
The kidneys are part of the urinary system which mainly functions to filtrate the blood and produce
urine.
Looking at the picture, just above the kidneys are the suprarenal (meaning above) glands/ adrenal
glands.
Kidneys
Ureters
Urinary bladder
Urethra
In the Kidneys production of urine occurs then, urine produced travels via the ureters the urine will be
transported by the ureters to the urinary bladder for temporary storage once urine shall be voided out, it
shall pass the urethra in the process called as micturition/urination.
The kidneys have an area called as the hilus, here the renal artery enters and delivers blood to the
kidneys. Blood also exits the kidney via the renal vein. Consequently, the renal vein and the ureter
exits via the hilus as well, that is why it is an important structure.
