RENAL FUNCTIONS AND STRUCTURE
KIDNEY FUNCTIONS:
The function of the kidney is to keep the internal environment
(internal milieu) of the body stable within the physiologic limits. This is
achieved through the following functions:
- EXCRETORY FUNCTION AND PRODUCTION OF URINE:
Through urine production there are: 1. elimination of wastes
(metabolic products, ingested toxins such as drugs). 2. control of
water balance (maintenance of total body water and plasma
osmolarity), and 3. control of electrolyte balance (sodium, chloride,
calcium, phosphate, potassium, acid-base, magnesium and others). - REGULATION OF THE ACID-BASE BALANCE OF THE
BODY:
This is achieved through the following:
Proximal tubular reabsorption of bicarbonate which is filtered from
blood through the glomeruli.
Renal tubules through the increase in the formation of ammonia and
titratable acids (phosphates, sulphates and phenols). - HEMOPOIETIC FUNCTION :
Kidney has an important role in erythropioesis in the bone marrow
through secretion of erythropoietin.
Human recombinant erythropoietin is now commercially available for
the treatment of anaemia in uraemic patients.