March in National Kidney Month! Most people only know the basics of kidney function. If I was to ask a person why our bodies need kidneys, they would probably say to filter out your blood. That is correct, however they can do more than that. Today I will be talking to you about the functions of the kidneys, along with some fun facts.
To start off, we will discuss the most basic function of the kidneys, filtering the blood and throwing out waste. The heart sends blood to the kidneys through the renal artery. The blood is then pumped through the nephrons where modified blood vessels purify blood, separating it from waste. The waste goes to the bladder through ureters and the blood returns to the heart through the renal vein. This process also gets rid of excess fluids in the body, delivering it to the bladder.
Another thing the kidneys do is regulate electrolyte levels. Electrolytes are small minerals found in the blood that help to regulate cellular functions. Medicover Hospitals states, “Kidneys maintain electrolyte balance by filtering out excess ions and reabsorbing necessary amounts of sodium, potassium, and calcium.” According to Michael Garron Hospital, ” Reabsorption works by pulling needed electrolytes from the nephron tubules back into our blood, along with water and other small sized particles. When we have too much of a particular mineral the kidneys release the excess minerals into the tubule, to be released as waste. This process is called excretion. If an individual’s kidney function decreases, electrolytes may begin to accumulate in the blood.”
They help with blood production through hormone production. Kidneys produce a chemical called erythropoietin. Erythropoietin tells your bone marrow to produce more blood cells. When your blood oxygen levels are low, kidneys produce this hormone to increase red blood cells production. Once oxygen levels are back up, the hormone production goes down. This hormone can actually help with anemia.
Your kidneys also help to regulate your water balance. They can hold in, or release water from your blood while filtering it. In doing so, it helps to control your blood pressure. Medicover Hospitals says, “Kidneys help regulate high blood pressure by controlling the volume of blood (through fluid balance) and by releasing the enzyme renin, which starts a cascade that increases blood pressure when it’s too low. Proper kidney function is, therefore, integral to cardiovascular health.”
Now for some fun facts! Did you know that the kidneys filter about a half cup of blood every minute? That’s wild! One in every three adults in America are at risk for kidney disease. These diseases throw off all of your kidney functions for water balance, waste removal, blood pressure regulation, electrolyte balance and red blood cells production. Now you can see, your kidneys do so much for you!
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21748-renal-artery
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/kidneys-how-they-work#:~:text=Blood%20flows%20into%20your%20kidney,kidney%20through%20the%20renal%20vein.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/14573-erythropoietin
https://guides.hsict.library.utoronto.ca/c.php?g=414919&p=2827207
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/kidneys-how-they-work#:~:text=Healthy%20kidneys%20filter%20about%20a,Your%20bladder%20stores%20urine.
