Kidneys and

Kidney Failure
 Role of the Kidney
One of the kidney's main jobs is to filter the
blood of waste. Blood is taken to the kidneys
via the renal artery. The kidney uses filters
called nephrons to separate blood and waste.
Water is also filtered through the kidney
which combines in with the waste to create
urine. The urine is carried to through the
ureter into the bladder.
Kidneys keep the balance of fluids and minerals
in the body (homeostasis). Kidneys also
constantly react to hormones sent from the
brain, and even produce their own hormones.
One of the hormones it produces stimulates
red blood cell production.
 Unhealthy Kidney
Healthy Kidney
Kidney Failure
Causes
Prerenal cause, decreased blood supply to the
kidneys

- large blood loss

- dehydration from loss of body fluids
- medication (ex. diuretics)
- abnormal blood flow to the kidneys
Renal causes, direct kidney damage

- sespsis, infection of the immune system

that causes kidneys to shut down
- medications, some are toxic to the kidneys
(ex. ibuprofen)
- rhabdomyolysis, muscle break down leads
muscle fibers to block the kidneys' filtration
system
Post renal causes, affect urine outflow

- blocked bladder can cause pressure,

backing urine into the kidneys
- prostate cancer, blocks the urethra,
preventing the bladder from emptying
- abdomen tumors obstruct the ureters
- kidney stones, may causes one of the
kidney to fail
Chronic renal failure (common causes)

- diabetes
- high blood pressure
- chronic glomerulonephritis
 Symptoms

- may not show sysmptomes at first

- lethargy, weakness, shortness of breath,
generalized swelling, loss of apetite
- metabolic acidosis, increased body acidity
- inability to excrete potassium
 Prevention and Medication

One way of prevention is to keep diabetes and

blood pressure in check. Medications that lower
phosphorus levels, stimulate red blood cell
production, vitamin and iron supplements, and
blood pressure medication also help.
 Treatments
Kidney transplant is the final option, but prior
to that dialysis is available. There are two
types of dialysis, hemodialysis which filters
blood though a machine and peritoneal dialysis
which filters blood inside the body.
 Haemodialysis
Blood enters the dialyzer to filter the blood. It
enters a chamber separated by a membrane.
Toxins from the blood pass through the
membrane into dialysate by diffusion.
Ultrafiltration removes water from the blood.
Both filtration processes happen at the same
time. Clean blood is pumped back into the body.
 Peritoneal Dialysis
Filters the blood inside the body by using the
peritoneum instead of an artificial membrane
like hemodialysis. Dialysis fluid fills the
abdomen through a catheter. This fluid
removes toxins and water from the blood
through the peritoneum. The dirty fluid is
removed and replaced with clean dialysis fluid.
 The Kidney Foundation of Canada

The Kidney Foundation of Canada conducts

research on kidneys and kidney related diseases.
They also offer programs and support for those
with kidney disease.
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http://www.kidney.ca/Page.aspx?pid=183