2. What Do The Kidneys Do?
• The kidneys excrete excess wastes and
fluids from the body
• The kidneys aid in regulation of blood
pressure
• They aid in the creation of red blood cells
• The kidneys maintain bone health
3.
4. Excretion
• The healthy kidney helps maintain homeostasis and
acid-base balance by filtering out excess wastes from
protein metabolism (Urea and Uric Acid) and fluids and
excreting it as urine.
• Blood enters the kidney through the renal artery and
blood is then cleaned in the kidney as it passes through
tiny filters called nephrons through the process of
osmosis and ultrafiltration
• The nephrons are the basic working units of the kidneys,
controlling the formation of urine. One kidney contains
about one million nephrons.
6. Blood Pressure
• Regulation of blood pressure predominantly depends
upon the kidney.
• The kidneys regulate blood pressure by removing
volume (excess fluid in the blood) and by excreting the
hormone “renin”
• When renin levels are elevated sodium reabsorption is
increased and blood pressure rises.
• When renin levels are low contracting of the the
extracellular fluid compartment decreases blood
pressure.
7. Bone Health
• The kidneys play a vital role in bone health
• Calcitriol, the activated form of vitamin D, is excreted by
the kidney which promotes absorption of calcium and the
reabsorption/excretion of phosphorus
• Calcitriol is needed to provide the bones with sufficient
calcium. Conversely, the kidneys also eliminate what is
not needed.
8. Anemia Management
• The kidneys are also responsible for stimulating the
production of red blood cells and keeping us from
becoming anemic.
• The hormone erythropoietin is excreted by the kidney
which stimulates the production of red blood cells in the
bone marrow
• Without a functioning kidney you would require a
synthetic form of erythropoietin to stimulate the bones to
create red blood cells
