Explain the kidney function in human biology, Biology

Assignment Help:

Explain the Kidney Function in human biology?

Blood first enters the capillaries in Bowman's capsule where it is filtered. The pores in the capillary walls allow water and small molecules to pass through, but are too small to allow red blood cells and large protein molecules to pass. The process by which material is filtered into Bowman's capsule is not very selective, and some of these substances that are of value to the body need to be reclaimed. Material filtered through the capillary walls into Bowman's capsule flows along the renal tubules. The process by which material is returned to the blood through the walls of the tubules is called tubular reabsorption.

Sodium, potassium, calcium, other minerals, and glucose are returned by active transport. These substances then enter the capillaries by diffusion. Water is returned by osmosis mostly in the proximal convoluted tubule, following the movement of glucose. There is additional reabsorption of salts and nutrients from the distal convoluted tubule, but this section of tubule also removes wastes and other substances not originally filtered out by Bowman's capsule through a process called tubular secretion. The pH of the blood is adjusted by the secretion of hydrogen ions into the filtrate. Potassium ions, ammonia, and certain drugs are eliminated by secretion from the distal convoluted tubules.

The loops of Henle function to concentrate the filtrate by establishing an osmotic gradient in the extracellular fluid around the loops that will later pull water from the collecting ducts. The ascending limb of the loop pumps NaCl out by active transport, but the ions cannot diffuse back in because this portion of the loop is impermeable to water. Salts can diffuse into the descending limb, but these are pumped out again when they reach the ascending loop, increasing the extracellular ionic concentration. When the filtrate reaches the collecting ducts, its osmotic concentration is much lower than the extracellular fluid of the medulla, so it loses water by osmosis and becomes more concentrated. As much as 99% of the water that goes through the tubules and collecting ducts is returned to the blood.

 


Related Discussions:- Explain the kidney function in human biology

Endoplasmic reticulum, ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM (ER) Eucaryotic celIs have t...

ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM (ER) Eucaryotic celIs have two major compartments- nucleus and cytoplasm. Cytoplasm was known to have no structure until the discovery of electron micrsscop

What is sulphonylureas, Q. What is Sulphonylureas? Sulphonylureas: Tolb...

Q. What is Sulphonylureas? Sulphonylureas: Tolbutarnide is the mildest and its effect remains for 8 hours hence 2-3 doses need to be taken. Another drug chlorpropamide needs on

What is physiology root pressure explain briiefly, What is Physiology: Root...

What is Physiology: Root Pressure explain briiefly? Transport of water, minerals and nutrients within vascular plants is dramatically different from animals such as humans. Whe

Homogeneity to the nucleic acid chains, Q. Do the phosphate and the pentose...

Q. Do the phosphate and the pentose groups give heterogeneity or homogeneity to the nucleic acid chains? What about the nitrogen- containing groups? Supported by that, which of tho

The trp repressor , In the lack of tryptophan shown in the figure, a trp r...

In the lack of tryptophan shown in the figure, a trp repressor protein encoded by a split operon, trpR that is synthesized and forms a dimer.  Furthermore, this is inactive and so

Long-hair in cats is because of recessive long-hair allele, Long-hair in ca...

Long-hair in cats is due to the recessive long-hair allele, l. Black cats (rather than tabbies) are due to the recessive agouti allele, a. A long-haired black female cat has mat

Is memory loss an early sign of alzheimer''s disease, Is memory loss an ear...

Is memory loss an early sign of Alzheimer's disease? A. Memory loss is one of the earliest symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and other kinds of dementia however occasional forget

Homeostasis, HOMEOS T ASI S - Homeo = same,   Stasis = state Li...

HOMEOS T ASI S - Homeo = same,   Stasis = state Living beings maintain their internal environment by self regulating system, it is called homeostasis. Term coined by

Define disadvantages of direct microscopic count, Define Disadvantages of D...

Define Disadvantages of Direct Microscopic Count? 1. Small cells are difficult to see under the microscope and may be missed. 2. It gives total count, i.e., both live and de

Are gametes always made by meiosis, Q. Are gametes always made by meiosis? ...

Q. Are gametes always made by meiosis? In the haplontic haplobiontic life cycle and in the plant life cycle (diplobiontic life cycle) gametes are made by mitosis and not by mei

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd