Metabolic requirements for renal function

Renal mass accounts for only 0.5% of body weight, yet the kidney consumes 7% of the body's total oxygen uptake. Most is used for tubular transport, but a significant portion contributes to less well-recognized aspects of renal function. Cortical gluconeogenesis capacity, for example, exceeds that of the liver per gram of tissue. Basal and transport metabolic processes are examined in terms of clinical relevance.