Kidney function - Biology Notes #91 Function of the kidney - filtration and reabsorption ‘The function of the kidney isto fiter blood, removing urea and excess H20, reabsorbing glucose, some H20 and some mineral salts. Urine is made by filtration and selective reabsorption «© As blood passes through the kidneys, itis filtered. This removes most of the urea from it, and also excess H20 and salts + As this liquid moves through the kidneys, any glucose in itis ies reabsorbed back into the blood. Most ofthe H20 is also : me (ere reabsorbed along with some of the salts. The final iquid produced by the kidneys isa solution of urea and salts in water itis called urine, andi flows out of the kidneys, along the ureters and into the bladder. tis stored in the bladder for a hile, before being released from the body through the urethra. Filtration happens in renal capsules {Blood is brought tothe renal capsule in a branch of the renal artery. Small molecules, including water and most of the things dissolved in its, are squeezed out of the blood into the renal capsule. ‘There are thousands of renal capsules in the cortex of each kidney. Each one is shaped lke a cup. Ithas a tangle of blood capillaries, called a glomerulus, in the middle, The blood vesse!s bringing blood fo each glomerulus is quite \ide, but the one taking blood away is narrow. This means thatthe blood in the glomerulus cannot get away easily.(Cuite high pressure builds up, squeezing the blood inthe glomerulus against the capilary wall. ‘These walls have small holes in them. So do the walls of the renal capsules. Any molecules small enough to go ‘through these holes will be squeezed through, info the space in the renal capsule. ‘Only small molecules can go through. These include wate, sal, glucose and urea. Most protein molecules are too big, so they stay in the blood, along wth the bloed cals. Filtration Small molecules, such as water, glucose, salts and trea, are squeezed out of the blood into a renal capsule. Reabsorption ‘Any useful substances, such as water and glucose, are taken back into the blood. The remaining liquid, called urine, flows into the ureter.How urine is made, Useful substances are reabsorbed ‘The fi in the renal capsule isa solution of glucose, salts and urea dissolved in water. Some of the substances in ‘his uid are needed by the body. Al ofthe glucose, some ofthe water ans some ofthe sats need to be kept inthe blood ‘rapped around each kidney tubule are blood capilares. Useful substances from the fidin the kidney tubule are reabsorbed, and pass back into the blood in these capillaries. ‘The remaining fui continues on is way along the tubule. By the time it ges othe collecting duct, itis mostly water, with urea and salts cisslved ints tis called urine. The kidneys are extremely ecient at absorbing water. Over 98% ofthe water entering the tubules is reabsorbed. ‘The relative amount of water reabsorbed depends on the state of hydration ofthe body (how much waters in the blood), and is controlled by secretion of the hormone ADH. + Ona hot day we sweat mor fo cool down ~» the body neds to conser water» produce a small amour of concentrated une. + Ona cod day: tle sweats bing produced -> we fend to produce larger volume of due rine Filtered blood retums to the vena cava (main vein) via a renal vein. The urine formed in the kidney passes down a tureter into the bladder, where itis stored. A sphincter muscle controls the release of urine through urethra.