Renal system 1: the anatomy and physiology of the kidneys
- Taylor, James
Abstract
The kidneys are central to the filtration of waste products from blood in the production of urine. Alongside this primary role are several other homeostatic roles, vital to wider physiology. This article examines the external and internal anatomy of the kidneys, and discusses the process of urine production and homeostasis of blood volume and pressure through examination of nephron structure. It explores the kidneys’ contribution to wider homeostasis of red blood cell and platelet regulation and bone density. This is the first in a series of articles about the renal system.
This article has been double-blind peer reviewed
In this article…
The anatomy and function of the kidneys, including the structure of the nephrons
An overview of the urinary system and the kidneys’ role in urine production
How the kidneys contribute to homeostasis of various systems
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Key points
The kidneys are central to urine production and have several other homeostatic roles
Each kidney is surrounded by a renal capsule, an adipose capsule and renal fascia
Production of renin activates the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in the regulation of blood pressure
Erythropoietin is central to the regulation of red blood cell production in bone marrow
The kidneys have a key role in vitamin D activation, which is crucial to bonedensity maintenance