The structure and function of kidney in human body

It's No secret that many people can understand the structure of distant galaxies or five minutes to find the cause of malfunctioning of a car engine and not even know where they are in the body is a body. In particular, few can clearly explain what is the significance of the kidneys, what they do, and what to do to avoid health problems due to a failure in their work. All these questions will try to answer in this article.

Description

Kidneys-paired organ. Located just below the waist, but not symmetrically. The right kidney is displaced downward, as above it is the liver. However, the size of the two kidneys is approximately equal. The length of each is approximately 12 cm, thickness — 3-4 cm, and the width — 5 see the weight of the buds is equal to 125–200 g. This means that the mass of each of them is less than 1 % of the mass of the human body. The left may be slightly more right.

Structure

The Kidneys are composed of nephrons. In a healthy person, the body may be almost 2 million nephrons, where urine is formed. Inside each of them is renal body with tangles of capillaries. They are surrounded by double layered capsule, lined on the inside with epithelium. Outside all of this “design” is protected by a membrane and surrounded by bone.

The Nephrons are 3 types. They are distinguished by the structure and location of the tubules.

• Surface;
• Intracortical;
• Juxtamedullary.

How kidneys work

This body is constantly in action. Those who are interested in the structure and function of the kidneys, you should know that in them all the time does not stop the circulation. The blood supplied by the artery, dividing into many arterioles. They bring her to every ball. As a result, the kidney urine is formed.

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This happens as follows:

• In the first stage plasma and the fluid contained in the blood, filtered at the glomeruli;
• The resulting primary urine is collected in special tanks, where the body of it absorbs all the nutrients;
• Due to tubular secretion of excess substances move into the urine.

Within 24 hours the body often is pumping all the blood that is present in the body. And this process continues. Every minute the body handles 1 liter of blood.

What is the role of the kidneys

This body plays the role of a filter. The main function performed by the kidneys — urination. It is extremely important. That is why nature has provided the human has 2 kidneys, and in rare cases, they may even be 3. If one kidney fails, the human body can function normally even with one kidney.

The main functions of the kidneys include:

• Excretory;
• Ionoregulatory;
• Metabolic;
• Endocrine;
• The function of creation of the blood;
• Osmoregulation;
• Concentration.

How is filtering

The Kidneys are not limited to the pumping of blood. In parallel with this process, they remove microbes, toxins and other harmful substances that pose a danger to the normal functioning of the organs and systems of the human body.

Then the decay products are in the blood plasma, which carries them into the ureters, and where — in the bladder. During urination all harmful substances are removed from the human body. Allocated to the toxins are unable again to get back in the ureters equipped with a special valve that opens in one direction only.

Homeostatic and metabolic functions

The body to efficiently adjusts the volume of interstitial fluid and blood. This is achieved by maintaining the ratio of ions contained in the cells. Equally important metabolic functioning kidney. It manifests itself in the form of an exchange of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids. This body also takes a direct part in the process of gluconeogenesis, which starts when fasting.

In addition, kidney «normal» vitamin D transformered into its more effective form is D3 and enters the body through the so-called skin cholesterol produced under the influence of the rays of the sun.

This body is also responsible for active synthesis of proteins needed as building material for the formation of new cells.

Endocrine and protective functions

The Kidneys help the body deal with alcohol, drug, nicotine and the harmful effects of medicines. In addition, they synthesize these hormones, enzymes and essential nutrients, such as:

• Calcitriol regulating calcium levels;
• Erythropoietin causing the blood synthesis in bone marrow.
• Renin, providing the ability to regulate the amount of blood;
• Prostaglandins, lipid substances that control blood pressure.

How is the regulation of the kidneys in the body

On the volume and composition of urine, which is released by the body during the day, largely influenced by hormones:

• Adrenaline, secreted by the adrenal gland, reduces urine formation;
• Estradiolregulates the level of phosphorus and calcium salts in the blood;
• Aldosterone, synthesized by the adrenal cortex, with excessive secretion causes a delay of sodium and fluid in the body, while its lack generates a lot of urine, which reduces blood volume;
• Parathyroid hormone - stabilizes the excretion of salt from the body;
• Vasopressin - regulates the level of suction of the fluid in the kidney;

The Amount of fluid consumed during the day affects the activity of the Central osmoreceptors of the hypothalamus. When excess water is reduced, leading to increased urine output by the kidneys. If the body is dehydrated, the activity is increasing, and the amount of fluid leaving the body decreases. Quite a dangerous situation may occur in lesions of the hypothalamus, when the urine volume can be up to 4-5 liters per day.

The functioning of the kidneys not only regulate the hormones. Their activities are largely influenced by the vagus nerve and sympathetic fibers.

What symptoms should contact a doctor

Kidney Problems — this is a very serious health threat, so when they occur it is impossible to postpone the visit to the doctor.

And that, perhaps, there has been a violation of the kidneys, may indicate the presence of multiple symptoms from the following list:

• Fatigue;
• Reduced immunity (successive infections and colds);
• High temperature, which is kept in the range of 37–37.5 degrees Celsius and slightly increase in the evening;
• Frequent and painful urination;
• Change the color of urine;
• Polyuria (output is too large amount of urine, which becomes excessively bright);
• The presence in the urine of blood clots;
• The appearance of puffiness around the eyes, on the feet, legs, hands and fingers;
• The occurrence of frequent, aching pain in the lower back, aggravated by being in an upright position.

Why we should not neglect medical care

Many people postpone a visit to the doctor, hoping that everything “resolve” by itself. Such hopes are in vain, because it can only worsen their problems and lead to complete renal failure in the body. First, the disease can become chronic, and after — can lead to kidney failure. In this case, it will be affected by cardiovascular, neurological, musculoskeletal, endocrine system and gastrointestinal tract. Need serious treatment, and in severe cases-hemodialysis. In this procedure the patient's blood many times I scroll through the filter of the artificial kidney. Each session of hemodialysis lasts for several hours. In a week the patient is required 2-3 such procedures, so the patient is deprived of freedom of movement, as should be every 2-3 days to visit the medical facility where treated. And so to the end of life, at least until medicine will come up with an alternative to hemodialysis.

Who should engage in the prevention

Particular attention to their health should be those who have immediate family had or have kidney problems. Caution should cause frequent angina and/or unstable blood pressure. Better to start with a visit to a qualified therapist. Most likely, he will be asked to pass urine and blood tests, and prescribe ultrasound examination. If the results are “suspicious”, you will need to consult nephrologist and/or urologist. In General, it is assumed that people older than 40 should be given annually to do an ultrasound of the kidneys.

Useful

To Know the structure and function of the kidneys — a little. It would also be useful to see recommendations from experts that will help you to avoid problems in the activities of this body.

Renal function is not compromised, you need to consume daily at least 2 liters of water. This number is optimal for the normal functioning of the human body. In addition, in this drinking the blood will be sufficiently liquefied to facilitate its filtration by the kidneys.

Useful for this body will be the use of cranberry or cranberry juice helps to eliminate excess fluid from the body and lowering the concentration of urine, which prevents stone formation.

For kidney health is very useful the use of a watermelon, pumpkins, zucchini and melons, which has an excellent diuretic effect and contain lots of vitamins and minerals.

Welcome active lifestyle and sport activities that prevent the occurrence of stagnation of blood in the pelvis. However, the load should be moderate, and being outdoors, you should dress for the weather, not to chill your internal organs. For the same reason, girls, and boys do not wear transparent lingerie during severe frosts.

Buds will thank you, if you sleep on your stomach. If in this position you don't get enough sleep, try to stay like this for 20 minutes in the period from 17 to 19 hours, as this is the time the kidneys are most active.

What to avoid

To minimize the risk to get to a kidney disease, doctors suggestto limit consumption or to give up entirely on coffee, carbonated drinks and alcohol. They destroy cells and are a factor that triggers dehydration.

Not the best way for the health of the kidneys can affect the consumption of mineral water in large amounts, if the plan of treatment of another disease. The consequence of this disease may be the formation of stones, from which later will be extremely difficult to get rid of.

We have seen, what is the function of the kidneys in the body is the most important. If the person is a long time to consume salty food, the blood the accumulation of sodium, and the number of such important elements as potassium, on the contrary decreases. Both have a negative impact on the body, primarily on the cardiovascular system and the appearance of the person.

Remember that a safe amount of salt for a person a day — not more than 5 g. However, many people consume almost 2 times more.

Affects the kidney condition such flavoring as glutamate. It was part of canned vegetables and smoked products.

To products that are irritating the urinary tract, applies the vinegar. In addition, it can trigger the formation of slag.

During the long winter months, many are attracted to vegetables and fruits, even to the greenhouse. Doctors recommend to refuse their use or include them in your diet is extremely rare. The fact that they contain chemicals and pesticides that are extremely adversely affect the condition of the kidneys.

Now you know what functions the kidneys perform in the body. We hope that the information presented in this article has helped you to better know your body, and you will gather from it the information that will help to avoid problems in the future.