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The kidneys are two bean shaped organs of the renal system located on the posterior wall of the abdomen one on
each side of the vertebral column at the level of the twelfth rib. The left kidney is slightly higher than the right.
Human kidneys are richly supplied with blood vessels which give them their reddish brown color. The kidneys
measure about 10cm in length and, 5cm in breadth and about 2.5 cm in thickness. The kidneys are protected by
three highly specialized layers of protective tissues. The outer layer consists mainly of connective tissue
which protects the kidneys from trauma and infection. This layer is often called the renal fascia or fibrous
embrane. The technical name for this layer is the renal capsule. The next layer (second 3 layer from the exterior) is
called the fascia and it makes a fibrous capsule around the kidneys. This layer connects the kidneys to the
abdominal wall. The inner most layer is made up of adipose tissue and is essentially a layer of fatty tissue which
forms a protective cushions the kidney; and the renal capsule (fibrous sac) surrounds the kidney and protects it
from trauma and infection.


The main function of the kidney is to maintain the fluid, electrolyte, and pH balance of the body by filtering ions,
macromolecules, water, and nitrogenous wastes from the blood based on the body͛s condition. Wastes filtered
out of the blood drains from canals in the kidney into the bladder as urine. Blockage of the drainage system
can cause the kidney to become congested, stretched, and potentially scarred. Functioning kidneys are necessary
to maintain life, and one 3 measure of their function is the glomerular filtration rate. A loss of kidney function
results in the need for dialysis, which is an artificial method of removing wastes from the blood by running the
blood from the body, through an artificial kidney, and then back into the body.



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The nephron is the functional unit of the
kidney, responsible for the actual purification and
filtration of the blood. About one million nephrons
are in the cortex of each kidney, and each one
consists of a renal corpuscle and a renal tubule
which carry out the functions of the nephron. The
renal tubule consists of the convoluted tubule and
the loop of Henle.
The nephron is part of the homeostatic
mechanism of your body. This system helps
regulate the amount of water, salts, glucose, urea
and other minerals in your body. The nephron is a
filtration system located in your kidney that is
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responsible for the reaborption of water, salts. This
is where glucose eventually is absorbed in your
body. One side note, diabetics have trouble
reaborbing the glucose in their body and hence a
lot of it comes out in the urine - hence the name
"diabetic" or "sweet urine." But that's another topic.
The Loop of Henle is the part of the
nephron that contains the basic pathway for liquid.
The liquid begins at the Bowman's capsule (upper
left) and then flows through the proximal
convoluted tubule (that mess of tangled stuff up
top). It is here that Sodium, water, amino acids,
and glucose get reabsorbed. The filtrate then flows
down the descending limb and then back up. On
the way it passes a major bend called the Loop Of
Henle. This is located in the medulla of the kidney.
As it approaches the top again, hydrogen ions
(waste) flow into the tube and down the collecting
duct.
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Essentially, nutrients flow in through the left and
exit through the right. Along the way, salts,
carbohydrates, and water pass through and are
reabsorbed.
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Post-streptococcal infection
(group-A, beta
hemolytic)
Release of material from the
organism, into the circulation
Antibody Formation
Immune complex
reaction in the
glomerular capillary
Inflammatory response
Proliferation of epithelial cells
lining glomerolus & cells
between endothelium &
epithelium of capillary
membrane
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Swelling capillary membrane
& infiltration with leukocytes
 Permeability of base
membrane
continued

Glomerular filtration rate
Occlusion of the capillaries of the
glomeruli vasospasm of afferent
ventrioles

Ability to form filtrate
from glomeruli plasma
flow
Retention of H2O & Na;
hypovolemia;
circulatory congestion
Edema
Hypertension

urinary output
Urine dark in color
Anorexia
Irritability lethargy
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