Formidable man: The kidney
Transplants are carried out often in the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital not just to train students(medical) but also to save lives. The problem faced however, is that of donation. Ignoring that problem, let us learn a little about the kidney.
. Don't confuse the kidney with the liver, true they are both organs for homeostasis(maintenance of a fairly internal environment in an organism) they still perform different functions and are unique in their functions.
FUNCTIONS OF THE KIDNEY. . Osmoregulation: This is the process whereby an animal regulates the balance between water and salts in its body fluids. The body does have room for excess or shortage of water or salt, hence the need to always maintain their levels in the body fluid.
The kidneys carry out osmoregulation in man. When the osmotic concentration of blood is higher than that of the cell content by means of sugar, mineral salts, amino acids and other plasma solutes, the kidney extracts these substances from the blood or body cells and absorb more water. When these substances are present on small amounts in blood, it creates higher osmotic pressure in the body cells thus decreasing the osmotic concentration of the blood and the kidneys extract more water than usual. By the action of ADH(anti-diuretic hormone),more concentrated urine is produced thus keeping the osmotic concentration of blood and cells fairly constant. Osmoregulation in man especially loss of water is also carried out through sweating by skin and expiration or exhaling through the lungs. other functions are 1) Excretion and 2)Maintenance of acid base balance.