Functions of the Kidney

-


Functions of the Kidney

The main function of the kidney is the maintenance of the interior composition of the body. Due to continued digestion and utilisation of food in the body, construction and destruction of the various body tissues, waste products are generated daily.
  • Excretion of waste products
If allowed to collect in the body, the function of the body is affected. These waste products are thrown out from the body by liver and intestines, lungs, skin and kidneys.
Kidneys excrete urea, creatinine and similar products in a concentrated form in urine. The amount of excretion closely balances the amount of production of these materials.
  •  Water and salt balance
Kidneys maintain salt and water balance in the body. When healthy, a person may drink upto 10 liters of water or as low as ½ litre in a day. The kidneys increase and decrease urine appropriately to maintain the total body water.
About 1 litre of blood flows through kidney. Of this about 180 litres of water, some salts and small particle are filtered daily in the kidney. Of this 180 litres, only 1 to 2 litre is finally excreted as urine. The rest is absorbed back to the blood from urinary tubules. Thus kidneys can dilute or concentrate urine.
The body water in humans depends to a large extent on salt content of the body. In case of reduced intake of salt , kidneys limit salt wastage in urine and similarly if intake is high , kidneys try to excrete extra salt.
Kidneys also excrete phosphate, ammonia products, urates and various drugs ingested by humans.
  • Acid balance
Urine is acidic in nature as it has to carry the daily acids produced from metabolism and activities of daily living, exercise etc. by excreting acid the pH of the body tissue and blood is maintained in a narrow range.
  • Haemoglobin production
Kidneys produce a hormone called erythropoietin or EPO in short. EPO stimulates bonemarrow to produces RBCs and hemoglobin. Lack of EPO production in the kidneys leads to anemia or decreased  hemoglobin.
  • Bone Health
Vitamin D produced from the ultraviolet radiation from sun or ingested in food is inactive. The liver and kidneys transform this inactive form to active form. Lack of activation leads to various bone abnormalities, fractures, bone pains and muscle weakness.



Functions of the Kidney
2nd Medical Advice / Opinion

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Urinary Tract Infections : Women

-
Image
U TI in short, is a common illness in a woman, especially during the reproductive period. The incidence in western countries is .5/woman /year. It is commoner in women compared to men due to their shorter urethra (Tube from the lower end of the bladder to opening for urine). Bacteria from large intestines contaminate the skin around the anus, migrate to the vaginal opening and may ascend through the urethra to the bladder and sometimes via ureter to the kidneys. Infections of the bladder are called cystitis, infections of urethra urethritis and that of kidneys pyelonephritis. Symptoms of UTI In cases of urethritis, pain while passing urine (dysuria), more frequency, pus discharge from urine opening may occur. In cases of cystitis, dysuria, frequency, urgency (inability to hold urine), lower abdominal pain or discomfort and sometimes blood in urine may occur. In pyelonephritis, the symptoms usually are fever (temp above 38 °  C ), flank pain or discomfort, tenderne
Read more

Fats in the Diet

-
Image
Each gram of fat provides 9 kcal of energy. Fats are essential for the human body as these make up the important part of all tissues and cells. The cell membrane is rich in lipids and brain is full of fat. In combination with proteins and phosphates, fats (lipids) for many important molecules. Linoleic and a-linolenic acids are essential fatty acids. Trans fats are usually of animal origin or provided by hydrogenation of oils. These are harmful for the body. Poly-unsaturated fats and Mono-unsaturated fats are associated with less risk to heart and brain compared to saturated fats. Fats of animal origin are more harmful compared to fats from vegetable sources. In terms of health benefits, olive oil, soya oil, sunflower and safflower oils rank high. In the body, lipids are measured in blood by the test of lipid profile (best done after 8-10 hrs of fasting). It measures S cholesterol (HDL or high density, LDL or low density and VLDL and IDL very low and intermediate respec
Read more

Water Soluble Vitamins

-
Image
Thiamine B eriBeri was known to the Chinese 5000 years back. However the fact that it was due to Vitamin B 1  deficiency was only known in 1926. This vitamin is found in nuts, legumes, yeast and rice (unpolished). It is not found in fruits, milk or vegetables. The meagre quantities found in these can be destroyed by cooking as well. This vitamin is required for the metabolism of carbohydrates and proteins in the body. It forms part of a chemical required for enzymatic activity. The requirement for man and woman is slightly more than 1 mg /day. A pregnant woman may require about one and half times of this. Severe deficiency of this vitamin can cause the following diseases: Infantile beriberi Adult beriberi Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome Leigh disease Infantile beriberi occurs in infants less than 6 months fed exclusively on formula feeds not having thiamine. It is now rare. Adult Beriberi: Dry beriberi usually causes nervous system disorder. Wet beriberi causes swel
Read more