Kidney function: imperceptible labor

We do not fully know all the functions of all organs. The kidneys are also not as simple as they seem. Although the main functions of the kidneys are known. Some of them know even people far from medicine, with the rest acquainted only with students - future doctors, biologists and veterinarians. The structure and functions of the kidneys are studied in detail at the relevant faculties. We will focus mainly on functions.

Not the most famous function of the kidneys is to maintain a constant normal acidity of the blood. Of course, not only kidneys respond in the body for such a complex process. Also part of the task is in the lungs. The latter "know" the delivery of carbon dioxide in the blood. But the kidneys reabsorb bicarbonates from urine and secrete hydrogen ions in the urine, thus reducing the acidity of the blood.

Also, not every day we hear about such a function of the kidneys, as the regulation of osmolality of the plasma. Quietly and imperceptibly, in the unknown they do a serious job of keeping the amount of electrolytes in their blood normal. "Immediate controller" in this specialty in the kidneys is the hypothalamus. He is able to notice an increase in electrolytes in the blood and give a signal to the pituitary. As a result, an antidiuretic hormone is thrown out , which causes the kidneys to make the urine more concentrated, without removing much water from the urine. Thus, the electrolytes are removed, but the water remains larger. As a result, the ratio of the amount of dissolved substances and water-solvent becomes again normal. Antidiuretic hormone is able to make some areas of the nephron more permeable to water, and it returns back to the filtered blood.

Also important is the function of regulating blood pressure by the kidneys. Yes, they do this too. Long-term regulation of pressure indices is a matter of the kidneys. This important function of the kidneys in the human body has recently been paid much attention to by cardiologists, since cardiovascular diseases are the main "killers" of relatively young people. Let's return to the regulatory function of the kidneys. In practice, it is realized by the synthesis of renin, which affects how many sodium chloride molecules are contained in the blood. In this process, hormones such as angiotensin and aldosterone are involved, and the scheme of their action is very complicated. However, as a result, the volume of blood plasma is regulated , and this affects blood pressure. This is why the "cores" drink diuretics, although it is necessary to prescribe potassium-sparing drugs, because diuretics often do not distinguish between electrolytes, and without enough potassium, the heart will be bad.

Also very interesting is the function of the synthesis of the hormone erythropoietin. The athletes are especially interested in this hormone. The fact is that due to this hormone, the number of oxygen carriers - hemoglobin-containing red blood cells - increases. If the kidneys do not have enough oxygen, they begin to stimulate the production of red blood cells. Therefore, every time when you lack oxygen in your training, your kidneys begin to synthesize erythropoietin, and after a while the effect of training - increasing the number of oxygen carriers - comes.

And conclude our review of the function of the output of waste, in fact, the most important function of the kidneys. We need protein for life, but the products of its metabolism are the most powerful poisons. Partly they will be withdrawn by the intestines, but many get to the share of the kidneys. They are the workers of purity, tireless workers who make our inner environment normal for proper life. Exactly this function is subordinated to the regularities of the nephron device - the functional unit of internal purity organs. The process of releasing blood from "sewage" is a two-step process, first, almost everything is filtered, then the part is returned back to the blood. And at each stage there are complex regulatory mechanisms.

Regular urinalysis is the minimum measure that we can take to determine the condition of the kidneys. Do not neglect the health of these small workers.