Kidneys and Urine Flashcards
What is urea made out of?
Excess/ worn out protein
Where is urea produced?
Liver
Why can urea be dangerous if it is left in the body for too long?
Can produce ammonia which is toxic
What is in the blood going in to the kidneys?
RBC
Urea
Mineral salts
Glucose
Water
Large proteins
What is in urine?
Waste urea
Excess mineral ions
Excess water
Urobilin
What is urobilin made up from?
Breakdown in the haemoglobin in the liver
What happens if the water conc. in blood is too high?
~Pituitary gland releases less ADH
~Kidney tubules reabsorb less water
~Lots of urine is produced
What happens if the water conc. in blood is too low?
~Pituitary gland releases more ADH
~Kidney tubules reabsorb more water
~Little urine is produced
What can lead to kidney failure?
Genetic
Build up of toxins
Damaged by other means
What are the advantages of dialysis?
~No problem with tissue matching
~Machines are usually available
What are the disadvantages of dialysis?
~Has to happen at least twice a week for the
rest of life
~Expensive long term
What are the advantages of a kidney transplant?
No special diet
No more dialysis
Relatively inexpensive after surgery
What are the disadvantages of a kidney transplant?
Finding a donor is difficult
Need a tissue match
Immunosuppressants for the rest of life
Why must a person take immunosuppressants after having an organ transplant?
Otherwise the immune system will recognise that the organ is ‘foreign’ and will attempt to reject it
What is the process of dialysis?
1.Blood temporarily removed from the patients body
- Filtered through machine
2.Patients blood passes over dialysis fluid
3. Urea and waste fluids diffuse to dialysis fluid
4. Blood is returned to patient
