Kidney Anatomy
How many kidneys do you normally have?
2!
But you can survive with one
What blood test(s) assesses your kidney function?
There are three acceptable answers....The GFR, creatinine, and albumin to- creatinine ratio!
GFR: A glomerular filtration rate (GFR) test measures how well your kidneys are filtering blood. It's a blood test that estimates how much blood passes through the tiny filters in your kidneys each minute. A GFR of 60 or more is considered normal
Creatinine: A creatinine test measures the level of creatinine in your blood or urine to evaluate kidney function. Creatinine is a waste product produced when your muscles break down.
ACR: An albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR) test is a urine test that measures the amount of albumin (a protein) compared to creatinine (a waste product) in your urine, essentially indicating how well your kidneys are functioning; a high albumin level in the urine can suggest kidney damage
Do Kidneys affect your blood pressure?
Yes!
Kidneys can help with BP regulation through sodium excretion and Renin (a hormone) production.
Conversely, high BP can damage your kidneys but causing too much pressure on the small, intricate filtration system.
= HTN can cause kidney disease which may in turn exacerbate the HTN
What gland sits on top of the kidneys?
Adrenal gland!
This glad secretes hormones like cortisol and epinephrine
What is a Urine dip?
This is a basic test done on a urine sample- often in GP offices. You have a testing strip and dip it in the urine sample. The testing strip turns different colours if it detects certain molecules......
ex. will turn darker green with speckles if blood is detected.
Are kidneys impacted by diabetes?
Yes!
Diabetes can cause microvascular (tiny blood vessel) complications. Diabetes affects the kidneys by damaging the tiny blood vessels within them, which are responsible for filtering waste from the blood, leading to a condition called diabetic kidney disease; high blood sugar levels from diabetes can cause these blood vessels to become damaged.
What are the ureters?
The tubes that carry the urine to your bladder
What is a urine Microscopy?
A urine microscopy test, also known as a microscopic urinalysis, examines a urine sample under a microscope. It can help identify cells, crystals, bacteria, and other substances that may be present in the urine.
Used to better understand any abnormalities on a urine dip.
What is Acute Kidney Injury?
AKI is an abrupt decline in renal function leading to increased nitrogenous waste products normally excreted by the kidney. This is usually reversible if you find and treat the underlying cause.
Causes are divided into three categories:
1. Pre-renal: dehydration from GI illness, big infections, not enough blood flow to kidneys
2. Renal: direct damage to the glomerulus (kidneys filter)
3. Post-renal: renal stone, big prostate, something obstructing urine flow below the kidney
What is a Nephron?
A nephron is the basic structural and functional unit of the kidney, approximately 1 million per kidney
What is a urine culture?
This test requires a sterile sample of urine. The goal is to culture and identify any bacteria in the urine.
If bacteria is found, the result will show the type of bacteria and how much of it was present.
Additionally, you can request sensitivities testing to be done and the lab will report what antibiotics the specific strain of bacteria grown will respond to.
Can Kidneys impact your Hemoglobin/RBC?
The kidneys are the primary organ responsible for producing erythropoietin (EPO), a hormone that stimulates the bone marrow to produce red blood cells; essentially, when the kidneys detect low oxygen levels in the blood, they release EPO to trigger red blood cell production.
If the kidneys are damaged due to disease, their ability to produce EPO can be impaired, leading to anemia (low red blood cell count
Where are the Kidneys located in your body?
The kidneys are located in the upper abdomen, below the rib cage, and on either side of the spine. They are part of the urinary system.
Location details
What is an ultrasound KUB?
A KUB ultrasound, or kidney, ureter, and bladder ultrasound, is a non-invasive imaging test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the urinary tract. It can help diagnose and monitor conditions affecting the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and prostate.
What it's used for
To find the cause of pain in the kidneys or pelvis
What is Chronic Kidney Disease?
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is when the kidneys have become damaged over time (for at least 3 months) and have a hard time doing all their important jobs. Developing CKD is usually a very slow process with very few symptoms at first.
Risk factors for developing CKD are high BP, diabetes, smoking, hx of AKIs.