Regulation of Kidney Functions

Introduction

Kidneys play a very important role in the body as they regulate and excrete out the waste elements from the body. The working of  kidneys is regulated by antidiuretic hormone (ADH) or vasopressin and aldosterone hormones.  A malfunction in the kidney functioning can result in water retention and hypertension. Kidney regulation is one of the most important and major functions of the kidneys; their regulation ensures that the required amount of water and other vital elements is retained in the body for essential functioning.

Kidneys

Kidneys are reddish brown,bean shaped structures present in the lower posterior abdominal area. These are two in number. Each kidney is 10-12 cm in length, 5-7 cm in width, 2-3 cm in thickness and average weight is 120-170 g.

In each kidney approximately one million tubular structures called nephrons and contain approximately one million miles of blood vessels ,these tubular structures are the structural and functional units of kidneys.

Functions of Kidneys

Kidneys are responsible for regulating the water and ionic balance of the body. They play a major role in regulation of blood pressure, water metabolism, ionic balance, regulation of urine formation in the body . In a day approximately 180 litres of filtrate is produced by the glomerulus part of the nephron and then water and ions are reabsorbed from various part of the nephron resulting in 1 to 1.5 liters of urine per day.

Kidneys are responsible for filtering waste products and excess fluid from your blood. They do this by extracting excess fluid and waste products from your blood and then process them and pass them out of your body. 

They filter toxins from the blood, regulate the levels of minerals in the blood, control blood pressure and produce hormones that regulate red blood cell production

The kidneys also produce a hormone called erythropoietin (EPO), which stimulates the production of red blood cells.

 The kidneys are under the control of the autonomic nervous system which is a part of your nervous system. 

When one  kidney is removed, your body is still able to function normally, but it’s up to you to ensure that your remaining kidney is functioning properly. 

Kidney Failure

Kidney failure is a broad term that refers to the inability of the kidneys to filter blood properly… When kidney function is insufficient to meet the body’s needs for toxin removal, fluid balance, and other functions, the person is said to have kidney failure. 

Kidney failure can be acute or chronic. Acute kidney failure is an abrupt loss of kidney function while chronic kidney failure is a condition in which kidney function gradually deteriorates over time.

When the kidneys stop working, waste products can build up in the bloodstream, which can lead to serious problems. When the kidneys fail toxins increase in the blood and can be fatal. 

Causes of Kidney Failure

Some of the causes of kidney failure are mentioned below-

• Malfunctioning of kidneys
• Uncontrolled high blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Anti inflammatory medications
• Other chronic diseases
• Severe dehydration
• Drug abuse

Disorders of Excretory System

• Kidney failure

• Renal Calculi

• Glomerulonephritis

• Urethritis

• Pyelonephritis

• Cystitis
• Haematuria

Glomerulonephritis

Let’s discuss glomerulonephritis which is one of the major kidney problems in human beings.

Glomerulonephritis is a term used to describe a group of disorders that affect the glomeruli (plural for glomerulus). The glomeruli are bean-shaped structures in the kidneys that filter blood to form urine. The glomeruli have a distinct membrane and are surrounded by blood vessels which can lead to scarring, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) reduction, and eventual kidney failure.

It is a medical condition that is characterized by inflammation of the glomeruli of the kidneys. This inflammation is often referred to as glomerulonephritis. The inflammation is generally caused by the body’s immune system attacking the glomeruli. Glomerulonephritis is most commonly caused by infections, although drugs and autoimmune disease can also cause this condition.  It is the third most common cause of kidney failure in the United States. 

Glomerulonephritis affects approximately 1% of the population in the United States. Glomerulonephritis is more common in women than in men.

Symptoms of Glomerulonephritis 

In glomerulonephritis, the glomeruli are inflamed and damaged, which may lead to-

•  Proteinuria (excess protein in urine)
•  Hematuria (blood in urine), and abnormal kidney function. 

Other symptoms are -Fever, flank pain, hematuria (blood in the urine), edema (swelling of the feet and legs), proteinuria (protein in the urine), oliguria (decrease in urine), hematuria (blood in the urine), nephrotic syndrome (a condition that causes excess of protein in the urine and sometimes swelling of the face, legs, and ankles), and hypertension (high blood pressure).

Glomerulonephritis is often classified as acute or chronic.

 Acute glomerulonephritis involves sudden kidney injury, frequently due to infection. Chronic glomerulonephritis may be caused by systemic or local disease, or may be idiopathic.

 Causes of glomerulonephritis

The main causes of glomerulonephritis are the following: infection with the hepatitis B or C viruses, a condition called systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), diabetes, and immunological disorders. It is important to remember that glomerulonephritis does not cause permanent kidney damage in most cases.

Conclusion

The kidneys are an amazing system within the body. They are responsible for a variety of functions, including regulation of blood pressure and the production of urine, which helps the body get rid of waste. The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs that are located on either side of the vertebral column, right below the ribcage. The kidneys have an enormous impact on the health and well-being of the body. In fact, without a healthy pair of kidneys, it is impossible to survive. 

Glomerulonephritis is a condition in which the glomeruli (the smallest units of the kidney that filter blood) become inflamed. This can cause the kidneys to lose their ability to filter waste from the blood. Therefore, additional treatment options are available which focus on the use of different medications and/or alternative treatments.