The Kidneys and Water Balance Flashcards

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Note: We may include questions that have multiple correct answers. It's useful to remember specific examples to understand these concepts better.

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What is the main job of the kidneys in controlling water balance?

They control how much water is in your blood by changing your urine.

What is meant by water balance in the body?

Water balance means the water you take in equals the water you lose.

Name two ways water gets into your body.

Water gets in when you drink fluids and when you eat food that contains water.

Name two ways your body loses water each day.

Your body loses water in urine from the kidneys and in sweat from the skin.

How do the kidneys respond if you drink a lot of water?

They make a large volume of pale, dilute urine.

How do the kidneys respond if you have not drunk enough water?

They make a small volume of dark, concentrated urine.

Why is it important to keep the water content of the blood steady?

It stops body cells swelling or shrinking, so they can work properly.

Besides water, what main waste product do the kidneys remove in urine?

They remove urea, a waste made when the liver breaks down proteins.

How are the kidneys linked to the bladder?

Urine flows from each kidney along a ureter into the bladder.

What happens to extra water in the blood when it reaches the kidneys?

Extra water is removed from the blood and becomes part of the urine.