The Kidney
The Kidney has two main functions, it removes metabolic waste from the body through the process of excretion and it regulates the water and ion content in the blood. The excretion is of a dilute solution called urine which contains urea, mineral ions, water and other foreign chemicals from the blood. The two kidneys have a very extensive blood supply and the whole blood supply passes through the kidneys every five minutes ensuring that the waste materials don’t build up. The renal artery carries blood to the kidneys and the renal vein carries blood away from the kidneys. The most important part of the Kidneys is the nephron.
The Nephron
The Nephron is a the kidney tubule and there are thousands of nephrons in each kidney. Within the nephron there are: Renal Capsule, proximal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle, distal convoluted tubule and the collecting duct. Each part of the nephron has a different role to play in filtering the blood to rid it of toxins and in the overall kidney waste and water control. The stages are ultrafiltration, selective reabsorption, production of an iron gradient in the medulla and adjustment of the water and ion gradients.
Ultrafiltration
Ultrafiltration occurs in the renal or bowman's capsule. The renal artery which brings blood to the kidney is split up into numerous arterioles, each feeding a nephron. The arterioles split into numerous capillaries which form a knot called a glomerulus. This is surrounded by the bowman's capsule. The arteriole leading into the glomerulus is wider than the one leading out so there is a high blood pressure in the capillaries of the glomerulus. This pressure forces plasma out of the blood by ultrafiltration. Once the blood is filtered in this way only blood cells and the large plasma proteins remain in the blood and continue in to the proximal convoluted tubule.
Selective Reabsorption
Selective reabsorption occurs in the proximal convoluted tubule. This is the longest and widest part of the nephron. In this part over 80% of the filtrate is reabsorbed into the blood. Ensuring all useful material is returned to the blood. All glucose, amino acids and 85% of mineral ions are reabsorbed by active transport. Small proteins are reabsorbed. 80% of water is absorbed back into the blood by osmosis. The proximal convulated tubule cells have many mitochondria to provide ATP for active transport and mirovilli to increase surface area for absorption.
Loop of Henle
The loop of henle creates the conditions for the final reabsorption of water in the collecting duct by creating an ion gradient. In the loop of henle salt is added to the filtrate in the descending limb. The cells surrounding are impermeable to ions. Due to water moving from a less negative to a more negative water potential, water comes into the filtrate. In the ascending limb the walls are impermeable to water so the water remains and the ions leave creating an ion gradient in the medulla.
