Harry Hare 10Q
Kidney Experiment – Background information
A normal human body has two kidneys. They are the body's filtration system, cleaning the blood by removing soluble waste products and turning them into urine. The kidneys also regulate the balance of salts in the blood and ensure that the blood does not become too acidic or alkaline. Every 45minutes the body's entire blood supply is filtered through the kidneys, they play the major role in maintaining the blood's composition.
A kidney consists of many tiny filtration structures, called nephrons. Nephrons filter water, salts, and other soluble material out of the blood and then put back some of the water and salt to keep the components balanced. The waste liquid, urine, drains into a collecting duct and is finally pooled in the central collection area, called the renal pelvis. From here, the urine drains through a channel, the ureter, into the bladder, where it is stored before being released from the body.