The structure and functions of the kidneys   

The kidneys are organs with a complicated structure and they regulate many life functions in our bodies. The main purpose of kidney is the purification of blood and allows the body to release toxic and unwanted material. As mentioned above the kidneys have complicated structure, when required their Clinical Consultation named nephrology doctors diagnose the nature of disease if any functional disorder found.

General anatomy

The kidneys are two organs that are about the size of their owner's fists. They are located on both sides of the spine at the height of the lower ribs. A kidney weighs about 150 g and is surrounded by a fatty capsule. The functional unit of the kidney is the nephron, which consists of the vascular ball, i.e. glomerulus, and a tubular system, i.e. tubule. The tubule system connects to thicker collection vessels, which lead the urine to the renal pelvis, from there the urine is passed on along the ureters to the bladder. The kidney usually gets its blood circulation via a renal artery. The renal artery branches into smaller vessels and finally into very small blood vessels that go to the glomerulus.

General function

The kidneys regulate the concentrations and amounts of a large number of substances in the body fluids outside the cells. The kidneys remove excess fluid from the body and regulate the electrolyte and acid balance. Slag products that have been dissolved in the urine are removed at the same time as the liquid. The kidneys also secrete hormones that are involved in the regulation of blood pressure and they are involved in the regulation of the calcium balance by producing active vitamin D. In addition, the kidneys secrete erythropoietin, which promotes the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow. Some drugs are removed from the body via the kidneys.

The primary urine is formed in the renal corpuscles

A nephron consists of a renal corpuscle and a renal canal. A renal corpuscle (malpighian body) consists of a glomerulus and a Bowman's capsule. Kidney dysfunction may also lead towards renal canal so early diagnosis help to prevent any further major problem, nephrology physicians also have specialize in diagnosing minor/major kidney and its related or connected parts diseases.

The primary urine is modified in the renal ducts and collecting ducts

From the Bowman's capsule, the primary urine flows further through the nephron into a renal canal ( tubulus , pluralis tubuli ). The renal ducts are lined with a simple layer of epithelial cells, which have different functions depending on where in the duct they are located.

A renal canal begins with a proximal tubule in the renal cortex. Then follows a U-shaped Henle's sling , which runs down into the kidney marrow.

Dr Q Khan is the best Nephrology Physician in Riverside.