Kidney function and urine formation
In this activity, students will use web-based resources to explore the structure and
function of the kidney and will relate their learning to ideas about homeostasis,
biochemistry, metabolic processes, and molecular genetics.
1. Locate your kidneys and size’em up! Explore how the excretory system interacts
with the circulatory system Relate kidney structure to function by annotating and
labeling the image of the kidney and nephron using information from these great
videos!
a) Renal Anatomy 1 – Kidney
http://www.handwrittentutorials.com/videos.php?id=72
b) Renal Anatomy 2 – Nephron
http://www.handwrittentutorials.com/videos.php?id=73
Kidney Structure and Function p. 1/7
The nephron is the functional unit of the kidney. Annotate the diagram of the nephron to
describe the processes of filtration, secretion, and reabsorption using the videos at
http://www.handwrittentutorials.com/videos.php?id=75.
How does the countercurrent flow of blood
in the capillary network around the Loop of
Henle concentrate urine?
How does pituitary antidiuretic hormone
(aka vasopressin) affect these processes?
Kidney Structure and Function p. 2/7
Describe the major events and processes in the stages of urine production (filtration,
reabsorption and secretion, and concentration) using the following table.
F
R
C
S
Name of process
Location
Process notes
Compounds
removed or
added from
blood or filtrate
Major
accomplishment
of stage
Kidney Structure and Function p. 3/7
1. Describe kidney function.
How does the glomerulus filter the blood? How does its structure relate to its function?
What compounds are removed from the blood by the glomerulus? What would be the
consequences of the kidneys not removing some of those compounds?
Turn text to image:
 The nephron maintains blood water and ion concentrations, removes wastes
from blood, and produces urine so the organism can excrete waste but retain
nutrients. .
Kidney Structure and Function p. 4/7
Name five other living things that have kidneys. What does this suggest about those
living things?
How do active transport and “countercurrent flow” in the blood vessel around the Loop
of Henle help the nephron to reclaim water?
What does urine consist of? What compounds should be in urine? Which should not?
Why does your cat’s litter box smell like ammonia? Compare the chemical structure of
urea to that of ammonia. Where does urea come from?
Kidney Structure and Function p. 5/7
Unit 1234 Mashup:
Connect kidney function to ideas and information related to our other units of study,
namely: Biochemistry, Metabolic Processes, and Molecular Genetics, and Homeostasis
Unit 2 Metabolic Processes
Unit 1 Biochemistry
Kidney function
Unit 3 Molecular Genetics
Unit 4 Homeostasis
Kidney Structure and Function p. 6/7
2. Technology and Society:
a) Explore and analyze kidney disease and treatment with one
of the following youtube videos. Collect information in the
“Yours” column. Then find someone to share with. Find
someone who watched a different video and compare notes.
a. Kidney stones
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_jIq3Ni1lc&list=PL
06011934654BA4E4
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_Rws6rN3YA&list=PL06011934654BA
4E4
b. Kidney disease and dialysis
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pV489B4mwAI
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4eK8LrrSCQ
Kidney disease and treatment:
Yours
Theirs
Name
Symptoms
Description of
treatment
Analyze costs and
benefits of the
treatment for the
individual and
society. Does
treatment improve
life and prognosis?
Prognosis without
treatment of
kidney disease or
disorder
b) Write a summary and response to one of these videos. What happened? What
did you learn?
a. Live kidney transplant http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou8CC4XN9wk
(start at 1:54 of 8:56)
b. \Here’s a great TED talk on printing a kidney using 3-D printers and
human cells.
http://www.ted.com/talks/anthony_atala_printing_a_human_kidney.html
Kidney Structure and Function p. 7/7