KIDNEY IN

HOMEOSTASIS
 KIDNEY IN HOMEOSTASIS
Definition of Homeostasis:
It is the constant maintenance of the internal environment of the body. In
other words, it’s the process whereby the body is at a state of rest.
Kidney:
It is the bean shaped organ responsible for the formation and excretion of
urine from the body.
The kidney is made up of nephrons which is the structural and functional unit
of the kidney.
We have 2 kidneys and each kidney contains up to 1 to 1.3 million Nephrons.
The number of nephrons begins to decrease as we age from about 40 to
50years
DIAGRAM OF KIDNEY
 FUNCTIONS OF THE KIDNEY
• Excretion of unwanted substances from the body like toxins, drugs,
etc.
• Maintenance of water balance: The kidney conserves water when it
decreases and excretes water from the body when it is in excess.
• Acid base balance: Kidney prevents acidosis in the body caused by
metabolic activities by maintaining the pH level of the body.
• Production of Erythrocytes (Red Blood Cells): They play a major role
by stimulating the production of red blood cells by secreting
Erythropoetin.
 AIM OF STUDY
To determine the role of the kidney in regulating the
change in composition of body fluid homeostasis.

Principles: When the concentration of any substance is

above normal in the body fluid, more of the substance
will be filtered in the glomerulus and less is reabsorbed
in the kidney tubules. This is the two homeostatic
process.
 URINE FORMATION
Urine formation is a blood cleansing function.
Kidney excretes the unwanted substances along with water from the blood as urine. The process by
which plasma is filtered into the bowman capsule is called Glomerular Filtration.
This plasma contains salt, water, nutrients and waste that are filtered from the blood.
Filtrate from the bowman capsule passes through the tubular portion of the nephrons. As it goes
down, the filtrate changes in quality and quantity. Many wanted substances like glucose, amino acids,
water and electrolytes are reabsorbed from the tubules. This is called Tubular Reabsorption.
This urine formation is classified into three processes:
- Glomerular filtration
- Tubular reabsorption
- Tubular secretion
Among these three processes, filtration is the function of the Glomerulus. Reabsorption and
secretion are the function of tubular portion of the nephrons.
 Cont.
Filtration occurs in three stages:
- Glomerular capillary membrane.
- Basement membrane
- Visceral layer of bowman capsule
 APPARATUS NEEDED
• Urinometer: It is used to measure the specific gravity of urine.
• Urinal: It is the jar containing the urine
sample of the patient.
• pH Indicator or pH meter: It is used to
measure the alkaline level of the urine.
• Thermometer: It is used to measure the
temperature of the urine.
pH METER (DIGITAL)
pH meter (older version)
 PROCEDURES:
• Step One: Calibrate the urinometer with distilled water to normal range of
1.000.
• Step Two: Distilled water should reach 2/3 of the urinometer.
• Step Three: Put the urinometer inside distilled water/urine sample. Add a
little spin while lowering the urinometer.
• Step Four: Take measurement from the “U” shaped area of the urinometer.
• Step Five: Discharge the sample once you are done with the experiment.
Note: Normal range is from 1.000 to 1.030. If it exceeds this, the urine is
acidic and there is a problem somewhere eg dehydration.
 pH Indicator
This instrument is used for measuring the pH level of the urine. There are two types:
1. Filter paper: Immerse the filter paper into the urine sample collected and bring it out
once it changes color. Compare the color seen with the imprinted colors on the filter
paper case.
2. Newer version pH Indicator: Electrode to be put in the urine sample and the pH
indicator takes a reading. Measure the temperature of the urine with thermometer also.
3. Older version pH Indicator: This is more complicated than the electronic indicator.
First, a buffer solution has to be prepared and the electrode put into it for it to be
calibrated at zero point. Put the electrode then into the urine sample and take your
reading.
Note: The filter paper will get the same result with the other indicators. This is beneficial
in the case where there is no electricity and the pH indicator becomes ineffective, you
can still continue your practical with the pH paper since both of them read 0-14.
 CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

It is advised that one should stay hydrated.

Increased concentration of solutes in the
urine can be associated with dehydration,
bladder infection, decreased blood flow to
the kidney, etc.