-Excretion of metabolic wastes

-Preservation of water-salt balance

-Maintenance of acid-base balance

-Secretion of hormones

-by product of amino-acid metabolism

-ammonia combines with CO2 to produce urea

-less toxic than ammonia

-by product of nucleotide metabolism

-insoluble

-gout occurs if excess Uric acid collects in joints

-kidneys excrete hydrogen ions from the blood into the urine

-kidneys reabsorb bicarbonate ions & return them to the blood

-kidney filters 180L of water per day

-control blood volume

-regulate electrolyte balance of blood

-control acid-base balance

Stores urine until it is expelled

-3 openings- 2 for ureters, 1 for urethra

Extends from the urinary bladder to an external opening

-longer in males than females

Functional unit of the kidney that produces urine

-also called renal tubules

Filtration

-proteins never leave the plasma

-molecules & ions are reclaimed from the filtrate

-glucose is filtered & totally reabsorbed

ADH

(Antidiuretic Hormone)

-secreted by the posterior pituitary gland

-helps maintain blood volume

-helps regulate water reabsorption

-produced by the adrenal cortex

-released as a result of renin secretion by the kidney

-causes sodium to be reabsorbed into the blood

-increases blood pressure

An important buffer in the blood is a combo of carbonic acid & bicarbonate ions

A blood PH higher than 7.4

Provides buffering against excess hydrogen ions in urine

Proteins, bloodcells, & glucose

UTI

(urinary tract infection)

Infection of the urethra

Urethritis- UTI of urethra

Cystitis- UTI of urinary bladder

Pyelonephritis- UTI of kidneys