AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The kidney is made up of three different regions internally: the outer cortex, the middle medulla (with the renal pyramids) and the inner-most renal pelvis. Scroll down the page for more detail of these specialized regions.

Detailed explanation-2: -The kidneys are powerful chemical factories that perform the following functions: remove waste products from the body. remove drugs from the body. balance the body’s fluids.

Detailed explanation-3: -Each of your kidneys is made up of about a million filtering units called nephrons. Each nephron includes a filter, called the glomerulus, and a tubule. The nephrons work through a two-step process: the glomerulus filters your blood, and the tubule returns needed substances to your blood and removes wastes.

Detailed explanation-4: -Nephrons are the most important part of each kidney. They take in blood, metabolize nutrients, and help pass out waste products from filtered blood. Each kidney has about 1 million nephrons.