What is the main function of the kidneys?
Maintain homeostasis –> regulate acid/base balance
What is the acronym for the function of the kidneys?
A WET BED
What does A WET BED stand for?
A = Acid Base Balance
W = Water removal
E = Erythropoiesis
T = Toxin removal
B = Blood pressure control
E = Electrolyte balance (K+)
D = Vit D Activation
When is BUN elevated?
1) Kidney injury/disease
2) Meds
3) High protein diet
4) Tissue damage
5) Age
6) Urinary tract obstruction
7) Dehydration
What are normal BUN levels?
6-20 mg/dL
What does BUN measure?
Protein metabolism (liver) results in urea (waste product)
How does a decreased GFR affect BUN?
Decreased GFR = Elevated BUN
What does creatinine measure?
Muscle/cellular metabolism results in creatinine (waste product)
When is creatinine elevated?
1) Kidney injury/disease
2) Decreased renal blood flow
3) Urinary tract obstruction
4) Dehydration
5) Muscle injury
True or False:
Diet and normal physical activity effect creatinine levels
False- creatinine is not affected by these
What are normal creatinine levels?
0.6 - 1.3 mg/dL
Name the hormone:
Secreted by the kidneys to help develop or release RBCs
Erythropoietin
Name the hormone/chemical control for the kidneys:
Helps exhibit vasodilation on kidneys, usually produces atrial stretch
Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP)
Why is the right kidney lower than the left?
Because of the liver
Name the structure of the kidney:
Tough, fibrous layer that helps attach the kidney to the abdominal wall –> protects kidney from trauma
Renal fascia
What hormones are the adrenal glands responsible for releasing?
Epi & norepi
What is the functional unit of the kidney?
Nephron
What does GFR measure?
How much the glomerulus is filtering
What does the renal cortex contain?
1) Glomerulus
2) Bowman’s capsule
3) Proximal tubule
4) Distal tubule
What does the renal medulla contain?
1) Loop of Henle
2) Collecting duct/tubule
What passes through Bowman’s Capsule?
1) Water
2) Glucose
3) Amino acids
4) Minerals (Salt)
5) Small proteins
6) Urea
What does not pass through Bowman’s Capsule?
1) Blood cells
2) Platelets
3) Large plasma proteins
What is reabsorbed back into the bloodstream via the proximal convoluted tubule?
1) K+
2) NaCl
3) Water
What is secreted in the proximal convoluted tubule?
1) Hydrogen ions
2) Urea (ammonia)