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Related Concept Videos

Kidney Structure01:45

Kidney Structure

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The kidneys are two large bean-shaped organs located in the upper abdomen. They filter the blood several times a day to remove toxins and rebalance water and electrolytes of the circulatory system via the renal veins. The kidneys receive blood directly from the heart via the renal arteries. These arteries enter the kidney at the hilum, the concave surface of the bean, where they branch and divide into smaller vessels and capillaries.
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Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Excretion01:18

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In geriatric patients, renal physiology undergoes significant changes, including diminished renal blood flow and a lower glomerular filtration rate (GFR), leading to alterations in medication clearance. Drugs such as aminoglycoside antibiotics, lithium, and digoxin, which rely on glomerular filtration for removal from the body, particularly impact pharmacokinetics. These drugs tend to have slower clearance rates in older adults, necessitating careful dosage considerations.Evaluation of renal...
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Chronic Kidney Disease I: Introduction01:25

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Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) arises when the kidneys progressively lose their ability to function, ultimately leading to end-stage renal disease. At this advanced stage, the kidneys can no longer filter waste or maintain essential body functions, requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) through dialysis or a kidney transplant for survival.Early-stage chronic kidney disease and detection challengesIn CKD's early stages, symptoms often remain absent because healthy nephrons compensate for...
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Nephrons01:10

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The kidneys are intricate organs with millions of working units known as nephrons. Each nephron features two major structures: the renal corpuscle, which facilitates blood plasma filtration, and the renal tubule, which handles the glomerular filtrate. Blood supply is directly linked to the nephrons. The renal corpuscle consists of the glomerulus, a capillary network, and the Bowman's capsule, a double-walled epithelial structure that encases the glomerulus. The filtering of blood plasma...
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Renal Corpuscle01:20

Renal Corpuscle

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The glomerulus and Bowman's capsule are two essential components of the nephron, which is the functional unit of the kidney. These microscopic structures play a critical role in the process of blood filtration to produce urine.
Glomerulus: Structure and Function
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Internal Anatomy of the Kidney01:12

Internal Anatomy of the Kidney

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The kidneys are essential organs in the human body, performing a myriad of tasks that maintain homeostasis and overall health.
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The kidneys are retroperitoneal organs positioned against the posterior abdominal wall on either side of the spine, roughly between the twelfth thoracic and third lumbar vertebrae. Each kidney is typically 10-12 cm long, 5-6 cm wide, and 3-4 cm thick, weighing about 150 grams.
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Estimation of Nephron Number in Whole Kidney using the Acid Maceration Method
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Estimation of Nephron Number in Whole Kidney using the Acid Maceration Method

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Structural and Functional Changes in Human Kidneys with Healthy Aging.

Musab S Hommos1, Richard J Glassock2, Andrew D Rule3

  • 1Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota; and.

Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASN
|August 10, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Kidney function naturally declines with age, showing structural changes and reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Current chronic kidney disease (CKD) criteria may mislabel normal aging, necessitating revised management for older adults.

Keywords:
agingglomerular filtration rateglomerulosclerosiskidney volumenephron numbernephrosclerosis

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Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Gerontology
  • Renal Physiology

Background:

  • Aging significantly alters kidney structure and function, independent of comorbidities.
  • Macrostructural changes include decreased cortical volume and increased renal cysts.
  • Microstructural changes involve increased nephrosclerosis, interstitial fibrosis, and tubular atrophy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the implications of age-related kidney changes on chronic kidney disease (CKD) diagnosis and mortality.
  • To question the appropriateness of current CKD diagnostic criteria in the elderly population.
  • To advocate for a revised management approach for age-related kidney function decline.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of age-related structural and functional kidney changes.
  • Correlation of reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) with mortality risk in the absence of albuminuria.
  • Review of current CKD definitions and their applicability to aging kidneys.

Main Results:

  • Nephron number and whole-kidney GFR decline with age, while single-nephron GFR remains stable in healthy aging.
  • Age-related GFR decline, without albuminuria, shows minimal association with increased mortality or end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
  • Current CKD definitions (eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m² ) may over-diagnose kidney disease in the elderly.

Conclusions:

  • Age-related kidney changes and GFR reduction may not represent pathological CKD.
  • Current CKD criteria require re-evaluation for their application in older adults.
  • A tailored management strategy is needed for elderly individuals with age-associated kidney function decline.