THE KIDNEYSBy

Anthony Isom JrBiology 120

Urinary System

The urinary organ system contains organs located within the abdomen.

These organs consist of: Two Kidneys The Bladder Two Ureters A Urethra

What are the kidneys

The human body contains two kidneys one in each upper quadrant

The kidneys are “bean-shaped organs.” Retroperitoneal Renal Capsule- the kidneys outer skin

covering The kidneys consist of two main parts:

Central-group of tubes called calyx and pelvis Outer Peripheral-Houses the cortex medulla,

and medullary pyrmids

What are the kidneys

Kidneys are made of nephrons. Nephrons are designed for filtering out the

bloodstream Responsible for producing urine through

several processes called: Filtration Reabsorption Secretion

The Kidneys are participants in the regulation of red blood cells (RBC).

Picture of kidneyMedullary Pyramid

Cortex

Renal capsule

Pelvis

Major Caliceshttp://www.nsbri.org/

HumanPhysSpace/focus4/ep-kidney.html

Functions

Kidneys are responsible for cleansing blood and balancing fluid.

Urine is manufactured to remove waste from the body.

Nutrients and other useful substances filtered from urine are returned to the blood.

Hormones released by kidneys

The kidneys release three hormones Erythropoietin which activates the bone

marrow to produce red blood cells. Renin is a hormone that regulates blood

pressure. Calcitriol aids to maintain calcium for

bones and prevent abnormal chemical imbalances in body

An Image of the Kidneys

Common Kidney Diseases

Diabetic kidney disease- When nephrons are damaged because of an excessive amount of glucose.

This disease is based on patients with diabetes. Glucose is produced and enter the blood. But with diabetes, the glucose does not break down acting as a poison in the blood.

Common Kidney Diseases

High blood pressure (hypertension) damages the tiny blood vessels in the kidneys nephrons.

Damaged blood vessel may not be able to filter out waste products from the blood if a patient is diagnosed with high blood pressure.

If blood pressure is consistently high kidney function will continue to decline.

Treatments for Hypertension

Physicians prescribe medications such as ACE and ARB.

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute advises that patients with diabetes or abnormal reduced kidney function keep blood pressure below 130/80.

Also reducing stress and incorporating meditation in daily activities can help lower high blood pressure.

Treatments for Diabetic kidney disease

A patient should frequently monitor blood glucose levels to keep it normal.

This treatment can either prevent or delay diabetic kidney disease.

Medications such as angiotensin-converting enzymes inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blocker can also be used to prevent or delay diabetic kidney disease

Healthy kidneys

In order to keep healthy and productive kidneys try the following”

Monitoring and controlling blood pressure Glucose levels Follow a low-protein diet Maintain healthy cholesterol blood levels Do not smoke Medications such as ACE and ARB can be

prescribed by a physician.

References

http://www.bing.com/ http

://www.ehealthmd.com/library/kidneystones/KS_urinary.html#kidneys

http://www.kidneyfund.org/kidney-health/are-you-at-risk/high-blood-pressure.html#h2

http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/Kudiseases/pubs/yourkidneys/#points

http://www.nsbri.org/HumanPhysSpace/focus4/ep-kidney.html