Structure and Function of the Kidney

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Kidneys are bean shaped organs, about the size of a fist. They lie on either side of the spine at the back of the abdominal cavity. A kidney has an outer fibrous renal capsule and is supported by adipose tissue. The kidney has two main part which are cortex and the inner medulla. The outer cortex is reddish brown and is the part where fluid is filtered from blood. The inner medulla is a paler in colour and is made up of conical shaped sections called renal pyramids. This is the area where some materials are selectively reabsorbed into the bloodstream. There is a large area in the centre of the kidney called renal pelvis, which is a funnel shaped cavity that collects urine from the renal pyramids in the medulla and drains it into the ureters. The medial border of the kidney is called the hilus and is the area where the renal blood vessels leave and enter the kidney. The functions of the kidney: filtration of impurities and metabolic waste from blood and preventing poisons from fatally accumulating in the body. Regulation of water and salt balance in the body Maintenance of the normal pH balance of blood Formation of urine Regulation of blood pressure and blood volume Ureters are narrow tubes that arose from the kidney and descend to the urinary bladder. Each ureter is attached to the renal pelvis of the respective kidney. The function of the ureters is to transport urine from the renal pelvis of the kidneys to the urinary bladder. The urine flows downward through the Exeter due to the rhythmic contraction and relaxation of the smooth muscles of its walls. The ends of the ureters extend into the bladder. Bladder is a pear shed sac which lies in the pelvic cavity, behind the symphysis pubis. The size of the bladder varies according to the amount of urine it contains. The bladder is composed of four layers of tissue which are serous membrane which covers the

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