March 9 Kidney Cancer Awareness month From the Cleveland ClinicThe kidneys have four main functions in the body: To maintain fluid balance To remove waste products To control blood pressure To produce hormones needed to make blood and to maintain strong bones (Hormones are chemical messengers that stimulate or control the activity of cells or organs.) Blood passes through the kidneys to be cleaned before returning to the heart. Blood enters the kidneys through two vessels called renal arteries. Within the kidney are millions of tiny structures called nephrons. The nephrons are the actual filters that remove the waste products and fluid from the blood. The kidneys also produce urine, which is made up of excess water and waste products filtered from the blood. The urine travels to the bladder (a balloon-shaped storage pouch) through two tubes called ureters. The bladder empties urine from the body (urination) through another tube called the urethra. The kidneys regulate blood pressure by controlling how much water is in the blood (blood volume). More blood volume means the heart has more fluid to pump and there is more force against the walls of the blood vessels, which results in higher blood pressure. The kidneys control blood volume by secreting a special hormone and by changing the balance of certain chemicals – including potassium and sodium – in the blood.
Posted on: Mon, 10 Mar 2014 02:54:09 +0000
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