Anatomy of kidney

The external appearance of the kidneys is dark-red and

bean-shaped (very similar to kidney beans). One side bulges
outward (convex) and the other side is indented (concave).
Each Kidney is enclosed in a transparent membrane called
therenal capsule which helps to protect them against
infections and trauma.
The kidney is divided into two main areas a light outer area
called therenal cortex, and a darker inner area called
therenal medulla.
Within the medulla there are 8 or more cone-shaped sections
known asrenal pyramids.
Therenal papillais located at the smaller end of the coneshaped renal pyramids

 The areas between the pyramids are calledrenal

columns.
Each renal papilla is attached to a cup, or a small
tube, called theminor calyx(CAY-lix), which collects
urine for removal from the kidney, and eventually
from the body.
Two or three of these minor calices (plural of minor
calyx) merge into what is called amajor calyx.
The major calices then converge into a funnel-like
cavity called therenal pelvis.
The renal pelvis, which is attached to the indented
side of the kidney, extends into theureter. The
ureter is a long narrow duct (tube) that conveys
urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder

Physiology of the kidney

Kidney Function
excrete or conserve salt and water
control body pH, and
free the body of waste products of
metabolism.

 Three main processes that enable

the kidneys to filter the blood.
Glomerular filtration
Tubule secretion
Tubule resorption.

(GFR)
The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the
volume filtered by the glomerulus over time.
In a healthy adult male about 180 litres of fluid
are filtered by the glomerulus every day.
Substances that are filtered in to the renal
tubule include water, small proteins, salts
(Na+, Cl-, K+, H+), glucose, nitrogenous waste
products such as urea and other metabolic
waste products and drug metabolites

Tubule Secretion
Some substances aren't filtered via the Bowmans capsule but
enter the nephron further down in the proximal or distal
convoluted tubules.
Some drug metabolites are secreted into the tubule in this manner
from the blood stream.
In addition, metabolites produced by the cells forming the tubules
themselves often enter the nephron in this way.
For example, hydrogen, bicarbonate and ammonium ions,
products of tubule cell metabolism, are secreted into the lumen of
the renal tubule.
These processes are important in the regulation of the acid-base
balance of the body. It is because of this that urine pH can
dramatically vary from being either acidic or alkaline.

Resorption
Substances that enter the nephron are not
all excreted but may exit the tubule and flow
back into the blood.
This often occurs with substances that are
particularly beneficial to the body, including
electrolytes (Na+, Cl-, K+, Ca++, HCO 3-,
phosphate), amino acids, peptides, glucose
and water.
occurs in the proximal and distal convoluted
tubules and also the loop of Henle