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Kidneys play a vital role in the body as they regulate and excrete waste from the body. The working of kidneys is regulated by the antidiuretic hormone (ADH) or the vasopressin and aldosterone hormones. A dysfunction in the regulation of kidney functions can result in water retention and hypertension. Kidney regulation is one of the most essential and significant functions of the kidneys; the regulation of kidney functions ensures that the required amount of water and other vital elements are retained in the body for essential functioning.
Structure of the kidney
At the back of the abdominal cavity lies the pair of kidneys on either side of the spinal cord. The right kidney is smaller than the left kidney to make space for the liver.
In a typical male body, the kidney weighs around 125 to 170 grams, whereas it weighs about 140 grams in a female body. Both kidneys are covered with a fibrous and tough renal capsule and two layers of fat to protect them. Each kidney has three internal areas: the renal pelvis, renal cortex, renal medulla and three outer layers: the renal fascia, the perirenal fat capsule and the renal capsule.
The insides of both the kidneys have pyramid-like lobes, which consist of the inner light-coloured renal medulla, and the outer part has a renal cortex which is dark-coloured, forming the urine-producing part of the kidneys. Kidneys have an essential function to play in the human body, which allows them to consume 20-25% of the output given by the heart. The end part of the two kidneys is called the ureter, a tube-like thing that moves the produced urine to the bladder.
Functions of the human kidney
There are mainly six functions of the human kidneys:
Keeping the acid-bases control: In a human body, the acids and bases are in equilibrium which is shown by a parameter – pH, which usually ranges between 7.35 to 7.45 in an average human body. The kidneys act as a controller for these acids and bases, as it excretes or retains these compounds based on the requirement.
Maintenance of the blood electrolyte: The kidneys play a role in filtering electrolytes in the blood; it either pushes them back into circulation or excretes it in urine.
Regulates blood pressure: The kidneys produce Renin, which gives birth to Angiotensin II. This increases the blood pressure by constricting the blood vessels. Additionally, if the blood pressure is high, the kidneys regulate it by producing more urine.
In the regulation of arterial blood pressure, the kidney plays a crucial role. A significant body of experimental and physiological evidence suggests that renal regulation of extracellular volume and renal perfusion pressure are crucial for arterial circulation and blood pressure maintenance. Renal artery perfusion pressure controls the activity of numerous vasoactive systems, including the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, and directly regulates sodium excretion (a process known as pressure natriuresis).
Removing toxins: The kidneys act as an agent to remove the water-soluble toxins and waste from the human body.
Activation of Vitamin D: Kidneys transform Calcifediol into Calcitriol, an active form of Vitamin D in the human body that keeps the bones healthy by regulating calcium and phosphate in the blood.
Control the water: A primary function of kidneys in the human body is to keep the water stable within the body through the regulation of urine, depending on the water intake of the person on a day to day basis.
What is kidney failure?
Kidney failure is a broad term that refers to the inability of the kidney 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 experience 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, leading to severe problems. When the kidneys fail, toxins increase in the blood and can be fatal. In such a case, regulation of GFR is an essential factor to determine the kidney’s functioning.
What causes 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.
Conclusion
The kidney plays the role of an agent that performs various functions in the human body, such as maintaining the water and blood balance and controlling and regulating the waste and toxins produced in the body.
