Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
KIDNEYS - Coggle Diagram
KIDNEYS
What do they do?
They balance the amount of fluid in the body
They detect waste in the blood
They know when to release the minerals, vitamins and hormones we need to stay alive
How do they work?
They work as fine-tuned internal sensors
Blood enters the kidneys through arteries that divide into smaller branches
These branches form tiny vessels that entwine with special internal modules, called "Nephrons"
In each kidney, 1.000.000 of these nephrons form an array of filters and sensors that sift through the blood
Nephrons filter the blood, they use a "glomerulus" and a "tubule"
The glomerulus works like a sieve, allowing only certain ingredients (like vitamins and minerals) to pass into the tubule
Then it checks if the ingredients are needed for the body. If so, they are re-absorbed in amounts that the body needs
The tubule senses compounds that the body doesn't need and redirects them as urine out of the kidney and through ureters
Hormones
Renin
Raises blood pressure
Erythropoietin
Increases red blood cells production
Main role
Dispose of waste products and turn them into urine
Body's eight liters of blood pass through the kidneys 20-25 times per day
They filter 180 liters every 24 hours
Bean-shaped organs