Changes

The kidneys are paired organs which reside in the left hand side and right hand side of the dorsal abdomen respectively. Their role is to filter the blood through the renal corpuscle; this comprises a capillary tuft known as a glomerulus which is surrounded by the Bownam's capsule within the [[The Nephron - Anatomy & Physiology|nephron]], and the movement of fluid and soluble material across these structures forms what is known as the filtrate. The filtrate is then on the whole reabsorbed along the nephron until what is left comprises compounds superfluous to the requirements of the organism. Some compounds, normally fully reabsorbed, are on occasion present in the body in excess. The kidney tubules are able to respond to this excess and excrete such compounds in greater amounts. This is how the kidneys play a major role in the homeostasis of the organism. The kidneys also plays a vital role in the [[Introduction to Fluid Movement - Physiology |total water balance]] of the organism, varying their excretion of water in relation to the hydration status of the animal.  

The kidneys are paired organs which reside in the left hand side and right hand side of the dorsal abdomen respectively. Their role is to filter the blood through the renal corpuscle; this comprises a capillary tuft known as a glomerulus which is surrounded by the Bownam's capsule within the [[The Nephron - Anatomy & Physiology|nephron]], and the movement of fluid and soluble material across these structures forms what is known as the filtrate. The filtrate is then on the whole reabsorbed along the nephron until what is left comprises compounds superfluous to the requirements of the organism. Some compounds, normally fully reabsorbed, are on occasion present in the body in excess. The kidney tubules are able to respond to this excess and excrete such compounds in greater amounts. This is how the kidneys play a major role in the homeostasis of the organism. The kidneys also plays a vital role in the [[Introduction to Fluid Movement - Physiology |total water balance]] of the organism, varying their excretion of water in relation to the hydration status of the animal.  

The kidneys receive 25% of the cardiac output. From this they filter 20% of the plasma forming a filtrate of which all but 1% is reabsorbed. This equates to all the circulatory volume being filtered and reabsorbed every 30 minutes.

The kidneys receive 25% of the cardiac output. From this they filter 20% of the plasma forming a filtrate of which all but 1% is reabsorbed. This equates to all the circulatory volume being filtered and reabsorbed every 30 minutes. The kidneys respond dynamically to changes in blood pressure and hydrations status, using several mechanisms of regulation including the [[Important Hormonal Regulators of the Kidney - Anatomy & Physiology#The Renin Angiotensin Aldosterone System (RAAS)| Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone system]] which can alter the movement of sodium chloride and water in the vascular system and extracellular spaces.

==Lower Urinary Tract==

==Lower Urinary Tract==