Kidney

The kidney is composed of thousands of minute tubes, known as the uriniferous tubules, or nephrons. Their number is estimated at about 2,000,000 and their total length at approximately seventy five miles. From each kidney springs a tube, the ureter, which carries the urine to the urinary bladder from there another tube arises, the urethra, by which the urine is voided.

In their excretory function kidneys exercise a fine and selective discrimination. The miracle of this function goes something like this: The kidney excretes no glucose except that above the normal blood limit of 0.17 per cent. It excretes only on-half of the urea and only as much NaCL as necessary to maintain the correct osmotic pressure of the blood even though both substances are highly soluble, diffusible and dialyzable. It can also differentiate between dissolved hemoglobin or egg albumin which are excreted and the plasma proteins which are normally not found in urine. It also returns to the body some of the materials taken out by the filtration system.

Like most glands, the kidneys are supplied with nerves; from the great sympathetic nerve, the splanchnic branches proceed to the kidney. They have no direct influence on the kidney cell even though their stimulation may effect excretion of urine. The changes in renal secretion following stimulation of the renal nerves are due to alterations in the blood pressure flow.

The kidney is evidently one of the mechanisms of the body capable of influencing blood pressure. In all cases of hypertension the kidney should be considered. High diastiolic pressure generally indicates primary kidney involvement. In some instances of prostate trouble where the bladder sphincter is severely pressured attention should be given to the kidney as the backed up urine causes hydronephrosis.

Salt intake should be guarded in kidney disorders. Some physicians now believe that the cause of dropsy is not too much water but too much sodium. This prompts the body to horde water in abnormal amounts, usually as a result of a heart or kidney ailment. Other symptoms and ailments of renal (kidney) dysfunction are urinary symptoms, burning sensations, blood pressure changes, hypertension or hypotension, toxemia, uremia, kidney overload, reflex back and leg pain, urinary incontinence, fluid balance, edema, ascites, localized edema, ankles, eyes, pitting edema, anemia (found in chronic nephritis), arthritis toxicity and kidney stones. The kidneys also help to keep the fine balance between acid and alkaline conditions in the tissues by removing excess acid.. The preservation of alkalinity in the tissues and blood is essential to life.

The structure and operation of the kidneys are unique, for the amount of work they perform on a continuous basis in so small an area. The kidney is about four inches long , by two, by one inch. According to estimates six hundred or more quarts of blood or one hundred fifty gallons pass through them in twenty four hours. Various disorders may involve the kidneys, and some may be quite serious. Fortunately, however one kidney is sufficient to perform all the functions of both in event one is incapacitated or must be removed. The health of these vital organs is of paramount concern.

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References: Endocrines, Organs And Their Impact pages, 25-29, Textbook of Physiology (10 edition) ,Blackwood Materia Medica ( First edition), Merck Manual (11 edition), Health Builder by J.I. Rodale,

Der Kleine Dokter Dr. A. Vogel, Switzerland, Degeneration, Regeneration, M. Page, Williams Endoctrinology, 3rd edition, Human Physiology, Vander, Sherman and Luciano, Medical And Health Encyclopedia volume 8 pages 1157-1162.