Functions of kidney

 Kidneys KIDNEYS Basic Functions The kidneys are essential for homeostasis (maintaining a constant internal environment) of the body's extracellular fluids. Their basic functions include: 1. Regulation of extracellular fluid volume. The kidneys work to ensure an adequate quantity of plasma to keep blood flowing to vital organs. 2. Regulation of osmolarity. The kidneys help keep extracellular fluid from becoming too dilute or concentrated with respect to the solutes carried in the fluid. 3. Regulation of ion concentrations. The kidneys are responsible for maintaining relatively constant levels of key ions including sodium, potassium and calcium. 4. Regulation of pH. The kidneys prevent blood plasma from becoming too acidic or basic by regulating ions. 5. Excretion of wastes and toxins. The kidneys filter out a variety of water-soluble waste products and environmental toxins into the urine for excretion. 6. Production of hormones. The kidneys produce erthryopoietin, which stimulates red blood cell synthesis, and renin, which helps control salt and water balance and blood pressure. They are also involved in regulating plasma calcium and glucose levels. ANATOMY The two kidneys are located to the rear of the abdominal cavity on either side of the spine. They normally weigh about 5 onces each, but receive about 20% of the blood flow coming from the heart. The urine produced by each kidney drains through a separate ureter into the urinary bladder, located in the pelvic region. T...

Kidneys & COVID-19 Why Are the Kidneys So Important? Most people know that a major function of the kidneys is to remove waste products and excess fluid from the body. These waste products and excess fluid are removed through the urine. The production of urine involves highly complex steps of excretion and re-absorption. This process is necessary to maintain a stable balance of body chemicals. The critical regulation of the body's salt, potassium and acid content is performed by the kidneys. The kidneys also produce hormones that affect the function of other organs. For example, a hormone produced by the kidneys stimulates red blood cell production. Other hormones produced by the kidneys help regulate blood pressure and control calcium metabolism. The kidneys are powerful chemical factories that perform the following functions: • remove waste products from the body • remove drugs from the body • balance the body's fluids • release hormones that regulate blood pressure • produce an active form of vitamin D that promotes strong, healthy bones • control the production of red blood cells Below you will find more information about the kidneys and the vital role they play in keeping your body functioning. • • • • • • There are two kidneys, each about the size of a fist, located on either side of the spine at the lowest level of the rib cage. Each kidney contains up to a million functioning units called nephrons. A nephron consists of a filtering unit of tiny blood vessels called ...

I'm Dr. Andrew Bentall, a kidney doctor at Mayo Clinic. I look after patients with kidney disease, either in the early stages, or with more advanced kidney disease considering dialysis and transplantation as treatment options. In this video, we'll cover the basics of chronic kidney disease. What is it? Who gets it? The symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. Whether you are looking for answers for yourself or for someone you love, we're here to give you the best information available. Chronic kidney disease is a disease characterized by progressive damage and loss of function in the kidneys. It's estimated that chronic kidney disease affects about one in seven American adults. And most of those don't know they have it. Before we get into the disease itself, let's talk a little bit about the kidneys and what they do. Our kidneys play many important roles keeping our bodies in balance. They remove waste and toxins, excess water from the bloodstream, which is carried out of the body in urine. They helped to make hormones to produce red blood cells, and they turn vitamin D into its active form, so it's usable in the body. There are quite a few things that can cause or put you at higher risk for chronic kidney disease. Some of them are not things that can be avoided. Your risk is simply higher if you have a family history of certain genetic conditions like polycystic kidney disease or some autoimmune diseases like lupus or IgA nephropathy. Defects in the kidney structure can also ca...

Function What does renin do? Blood pressure regulation is the main function of renin. It works together with angiotensin and aldosterone to manage the levels of sodium and potassium in your body. Here’s how the process works: • Renin converts angiotensinogen (a precursor of angiotensin that’s produced by your liver) to angiotensin I. (Angiotensin is a hormone that narrows your blood vessels.) • Angiotensin I is converted to angiotensin II. • Angiotensin II narrows your • Aldosterone helps your kidneys retain water and salt, increasing the amount of water in your body. This increases your blood pressure. How is renin released? Renin is released into your bloodstream when your blood pressure drops too low or when there’s not enough sodium in your body. Specifically, renin secretion happens when: • Baroreceptors (pressure-sensitive receptors) in your arterial vessels detect • Your kidneys detect low salt (sodium) levels. • Beta 1 adrenergic receptors (which regulate your heart rate) detect activity in your sympathetic nervous system. Does renin increase blood pressure? Not exactly. On its own, renin doesn’t affect your blood pressure. Instead, it works together with angiotensin and aldosterone to accomplish this. Angiotensin narrows your blood vessels and aldosterone causes your kidneys to retain water and salt. This increases the amount of fluid in your body and raises your blood pressure. Conditions and Disorders What conditions are related to renin production? Increased re...

Maintaining an active lifestyle and nutritious diet may help prevent kidney problems. But certain factors can increase your risk of developing kidney damage or disease. Your Most importantly, they filter waste products, excess water, and other impurities from your blood. These waste products are stored in your bladder and later expelled through urine. In addition, your kidneys regulate pH, salt, and potassium levels in your body. They also produce hormones that regulate blood pressure and control the production of red blood cells. Your kidneys are also responsible for activating a form of vitamin D that helps your body absorb calcium for building bones and regulating muscle function. Maintaining kidney health is important to your overall health and general well-being. By keeping your kidneys healthy, your body will filter and expel waste properly and produce hormones to help your body function properly. Here are some tips to help keep your kidneys healthy. There’s no magic behind the cliché advice to drink eight glasses of water a day, but it’s a good goal precisely because it encourages you to stay hydrated. Regular, consistent water intake is healthy for your kidneys. Water helps clear sodium and toxins from your kidneys. It also lowers your risk of chronic kidney disease. Aim for at least 1.5 to 2 liters in a day. Exactly People who have previously had If you regularly take over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication, you may be causing kidney damage. According to the People...

How does the urinary system work? The urinary system's function is to filter blood and create urine as a waste by-product. The organs of the urinary system include the kidneys, renal pelvis, ureters, bladder and urethra. The body takes nutrients from food and converts them to energy. After the body has taken the food components that it needs, waste products are left behind in the bowel and in the blood. The kidney and urinary systems help the body to eliminate liquid waste called urea, and tokeep chemicals, such as potassium and sodium, and water in balance. Urea is produced when foods containing protein, such as meat, poultry, and certain vegetables, are broken down in the body. Urea is carried in the bloodstream to the kidneys, where it is removed along with water and other wastes in the form of urine. Other important functions of the kidneys include blood pressure regulation and the production of erythropoietin, which controls red blood cell production in the bone marrow. Kidneys also regulate the acid-base balance and conserve fluids. Kidney and urinary system parts and their functions • Two kidneys.This pair of purplish-brown organsis located below the ribs toward the middle of the back. Their function is to: • Remove waste products and drugs from the body • Balance the body's fluids • Release hormones to regulate blood pressure • Control production of red blood cells The kidneys remove urea from the blood through tiny filtering units called nephrons. Each nephron con...