RENAL FUNCTION

The principal functions of kidney are;

·         

            Urine formation in order to excrete water soluble (mainly nitrogenous) waste products and toxin form the body with reabsorption of nutrients and electrolytes .

            

            Control ECF volume and composition, acid-base status, blood pressure, electrolytes.

            Metabolic function – synthesis of glutathione, gluconeogenesis, ammonia formation

            Endocrine function – Erythropoietin synthesis, 1,25-Dihydroxy vitamin D₃ formation, renin synthesis, prostaglandin synthesis.

About 1.1 to 1.3 L blood (750 ml plasma) flows through glomeruli per minute out of this only 120 ml/min is filtered by glomeruli. Kidney forms 1-2L urine/day out of 170L of glomerular filtrate which indicates heavy reabsorption. Polyuria (>3 L/day), Oliguria (<400 mL/day) and Anuria (<100 mL/day).

Apart from this kidney has 10⁷ Na-K ATPase molecules per cell, other Ca-ATPase, H⁺-ATPase, and an H⁺, K⁺-ATPase and 100 Na and Cl channels.