TOX 4000 Study Guide - Final Guide: Neomycin, Transplant Rejection, Necrosis

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Toxicology
• Course: TOX 4000
• Professor: Craig Bailey

Document Summary

The functional integrity of the mammalian kidney is vital to total body homeostasis because the kidney plays a principal role in the excretion of metabolic wastes and in the regulation of extracellular fluid volume, electrolyte composition, and acid-base balance. In addition, the kidney synthesizes and releases hormones, such as renin and erythropoietin, and metabolizes vitamin d3 to the active 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin d3 form. A toxic insult to the kidney therefore could disrupt any or all of these functions and could have profound effects on total body metabolism. Fortunately, the kidneys are equipped with a variety of detoxification mechanisms and have considerable functional reverse and regenerative capacities. Gross examination of a sagittal section of the kidney reveals three clearly demarcated anatomic areas: the cortex, the medulla and the papilla. The functional unit of the kidney, the nephron, may also be considered in three portions: the vascular element, the glomerulus, and the tubular element.