Lab 10: Renal Function
Abstract: The renal system is comprised of the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder and urethra. This system has many functions, the most obvious are the creation, storage and excretion of urine. To understand the functions of this system, one must explore how and why urine – a waste product – is made. The kidneys make the urine and are located retroperitoneal which means their posterior side is next to the posterior abdominal wall (against the “back”) and there anterior side is covered with peritoneum. The by-product of urine is made as the kidney’s filter blood plasma. In filtering blood plasma, the kidneys control blood volume (which ultimately controls the body’s levels of extracellular fluid), regulate erythrocyte production and acid/base balance, and help to rid the body of toxins and waste products. Renal function can be evaluated using simple urine tests. These tests can yield a lot of data about the health of the body and they are non-invasive which makes them important tools in health care.