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The human urinary system, also known as the urinary tract or renal system, consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and the urethra.The purpose of the urinary system is to eliminate waste from the body, regulate blood volume and blood pressure, control levels of electrolytes and metabolites, and regulate blood pH.
The adjective renal, meaning related to the kidney, is from the Latin rēnēs, meaning kidneys; the prefix nephro-is from the Ancient Greek word for kidney, nephros (νεφρός). [37] For example, surgical removal of the kidney is a nephrectomy, while a reduction in kidney function is called renal dysfunction.
Renal physiology (Latin renes, "kidneys") is the study of the physiology of the kidney. This encompasses all functions of the kidney, including maintenance of acid-base balance; regulation of fluid balance; regulation of sodium, potassium, and other electrolytes; clearance of toxins; absorption of glucose, amino acids, and other small molecules ...
The functions of the kidney include maintenance of acid-base balance; regulation of fluid balance; regulation of sodium, potassium, and other electrolytes; clearance of toxins; absorption of glucose, amino acids, and other small molecules; regulation of blood pressure; production of various hormones, such as erythropoietin; and activation of vitamin D.
In the narrow sense, the term refers to the urinary system. However, as excretion involves several functions that are only superficially related, it is not usually used in more formal classifications of anatomy or function. As most healthy functioning organs produce metabolic and other wastes, the entire organism depends on the function of the ...
The function of the kidneys is regulated by the autonomic nervous system and hormones. [36] The potential for regeneration in mature kidneys is limited [37] [38] because new nephrons cannot be formed. [39] But in cases of limited injury, renal function can be restored through compensatory mechanisms. [40]
Blood enters the kidney through the renal artery, which in the multilobar kidney then branches in the region of the renal pelvis into large interlobar arteries that pass through the renal columns. [ 62 ] [ 63 ] The pyramids consist mainly of tubules that transport urine from the cortex, that produces it by blood filtration, to the tips of the ...
The kidney has many functions, which a well-functioning kidney realizes by filtering blood in a process known as glomerular filtration. A major measure of kidney function is the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). The glomerular filtration rate is the flow rate of filtered fluid through the kidney.