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Flashcards · Biology · The Kidneys

Kidney Failure, Dialysis and Transplants

16 cards

  1. What is kidney failure?

    The kidneys no longer filter the blood properly.

  2. Name two causes of kidney failure.

    Infection, high blood pressure, diabetes or injury.

  3. What builds up when the kidneys fail?

    Urea, excess water and excess ions.

  4. What is dialysis?

    A treatment in which a machine cleans the blood.

  5. How does urea leave the blood in dialysis?

    It diffuses across a partially permeable membrane into the dialysis fluid.

  6. Why does dialysis fluid have no urea?

    So there is a concentration gradient for urea.

  7. Why does dialysis fluid contain glucose?

    So the glucose of the patient does not diffuse out.

  8. Why is the dialysis fluid replaced?

    To keep the concentration gradient steep.

  9. How often is dialysis needed?

    About three times a week, for three to four hours.

  10. What is a transplant?

    The replacement of the kidney with a healthy donor kidney.

  11. What is rejection?

    The immune system attacks the donor organ.

  12. How is rejection reduced?

    By matching the tissue type and by taking immunosuppressant drugs.

  13. Why do transplant patients get more infections?

    The drugs reduce the immune system.

  14. Name one problem with transplants.

    A shortage of donors.

  15. Can a living person donate a kidney?

    Yes, a person can live with one kidney.

  16. Common mistake about dialysis?

    Saying that it cures kidney failure. It only cleans the blood while the kidneys do not work.