Kidney Function

The kidneys regulate the fluid and electrolyte balance of the body by continually filtering the blood. This is vital to maintain a constant extracellular fluid volume and composition.

To perform this important function they are able to:

1. excrete or conserve salt and water;
2. control body pH, and
3. free the body of waste products of metabolism.

There are three main processes that enable the kidneys to filter the blood. These are Glomerular filtration, Tubule secretion and Tubule resorption.