The kidney has six roles in homeostasis. Please describe them

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answer: a. Ion balance: Some of the main ions that are important to control are Na+, K+, and Ca2+. Na+ levels are an important determinant of extracellular fluid osmolarity and water retention. K+ is important for setting membrane potentials of excitable tissues, and therefore K+ concentrations that are too high or too low can cause tissue dysfunction. Ca2+ plays a role as a macronutrient.
b. Osmotic balance: Kidneys play a role in water balance by controlling the amount of urine produced. Low water retention results in dehydration, and excessive water retention can lead to high blood pressure and edema.
c. Blood pressure: By controlling blood volume, the kidney can act to control blood pressure. The volume of the extracellular fluid is under the control of the kidney, through hormones and nerves that integrate cardiovascular conditions with the output of the central cardiovascular control center. Low blood pressure has negative impacts on the delivery of fuels to active tissue, while high pressure puts the animal at risk for damage to microvasculature.
d. pH balance: the kidney regulates the pH of extracellular fluid by retaining or excreting H+ or HCO3-.
e. Excretion: The kidney plays an important role in the excretion of nitrogenous wastes as well as other water-soluble toxins.
f. Hormone production: The kidney synthesizes and releases hormones such as renin (to control blood pressure) and erythropoietin (to control red blood cell synthesis).