Important Topic of Biology: Artificial Kidney - Infinity Learn by Sri Chaitanya

Table of Contents

Definition:

Artificial kidney is done to the person whose kidney function is impaired. In this process, we will extract the blood of a person and purify it and then add it to the person’s bloodstream. It is mainly important to the dialysis person, their kidney won’t function properly. So for its artificial kidney function, what the kidney does we will do it outside the body, if this process is not done in the person who is having impaired kidney then the person may die. There will be a machine that takes out the waste product from our blood and purifies it again and supplies it into the body.

In this article, we will discuss artificial kidney which is also known as hemodialysis, function or principles of hemodialysis, symptoms of kidney failure patients, and some dialyzable substances used in this process. Dialysis is removing toxins from the blood through an artificial process when the kidney is impaired. The principles tell us about the function of dialysis. It is also known as the artificial kidney and it’s a temporary solution for impaired kidneys. This is brief information about artificial kidneys.

Overview:

Artificial kidney is also known as hemodialysis but also referred to as renal replacement therapies. It is a process of separating large particles from small ones through a selectively permeable membrane which consists of small pore size and also depends on hemodialysis which is used to filter out blood by excretion of urea. In this process, blood is pumped into the dialysis unit through the radial artery. The dialyzing unit is made up of cellophane having compositions the same as plasma but it is not having nitrogenous waste.

Cellophane membrane function depends on the concentration gradients. In dialyzing fluid substances move freely by purifying blood without toxins. The blood again pumped back into the body. Uremia is a disorder that leads to a high accumulation of urea in blood by the improper kidney which further leads to kidney failure hence artificial kidney which is also known as hemodialysis is performed.

It is a temporary treatment done in the person who is going to have a kidney transplant which is also known as grafting in which an active kidney from the donor is transplanted. It is the process of removing excess amounts of solute and waste products from the blood in an artificial way in patients whose kidneys are not working properly. When the kidneys are not functioning properly they don’t filter the blood which is their function and toxins buildup in your bloodstream.

People who are suffering from end-stage renal disease need dialysis. High blood pressure, diabetes, and lupus can damage kidneys which lead to kidney diseases. Kidney failure can be a long-term condition or it can occur acutely a sudden rapid loss of kidney function which is known as acute kidney injury. In kidney diseases, there are five stages. In stage five the health department considers you to be in end-stage renal disease or kidney failure. In this stage, the filtration will be up to 10-20% of their normal function.

The first successful artificial kidney was developed by Willem Kolff in 1940. Kolff was first constructed as a working dialyzer in 1943.

Principle of hemodialysis:

To prevent loss of substances like amino acids, sugars and salts are added to sterile solutions so, their diffusion from the blood is offset by an equal movement in opposite direction. The shortage of diffusible materials in the blood can be remedied by including them in solution, where they join the circulation. In hemodialysis, water is not removed because its concentration of it is less than that in solution. The blood dilution that would result from this particular process is prevented by ultrafiltration, where the water with dissolved materials is forced via membrane by maintaining the blood at a higher pressure than the solution.

The function of dialysis:

In dialysis two liquids separated by a porous membrane exchange those components which exist as particles small enough to diffuse via pores. When blood is brought with a single side of the membrane the dissolved inorganic salts and urea pass through a sterile solution placed on the other side of the membrane. Through this membrane white blood cells and red blood cells, proteins, platelets can not pass.

To prevent loss of substances like amino acids, sugars and salts are added to sterile solutions so, their diffusion from the blood is offset by an equal movement in opposite direction. The shortage of diffusible materials in the blood can be remedied by including them in solution, where they join the circulation. In dialysis, water is not removed because its concentration of it is less than that in the solution. The blood dilution that would result from this particular process is prevented by ultrafiltration, where the water with dissolved materials is forced via membrane by maintaining the blood at a higher pressure than the solution.

Symptoms of hemodialysis:

The following symptoms may act as indicators for kidney failure and sometimes they may not act as indicators to kidney failure too. The symptoms are sudden or persistent change in urination, metallic taste in the mouth which is known as ammonia breath, itching or pruritus, fatigue, nausea and throwing up, loss of appetite, and swelling; these may show that the kidney is failed.

Dialyzable substances:

Dialyzable substances are defined as the substance’s removal with dialysis. Characteristics of these dialyzable substances are lower molecular mass, high water solubility, low protein binding capacity, prolonged elimination, and small volume of distribution. Some of the dialyzable substances are ethylene glycol, procainamide, methanol, isopropyl alcohol, lithium, bromide, ethanol, acetone, etc.

Importance of this chapter NEET:

This chapter tells us about hemodialysis, its symptoms, principles, treatments, and all. This chapter is very important, as the question paper is incomplete without having questions related to this topic. You can expect many questions like types, principles or about its history and others. If you are one who is aiming for high marks then this is where you need to focus. Don’t neglect this area.

FAQs:

What is hemodialysis?

What is the principle of hemodialysis?

In hemodialysis two liquids separated by a porous membrane exchange those components which exist as particles small enough to diffuse via pores. When blood is brought to the single side of the membrane the dissolved inorganic salts and urea pass through a sterile solution placed on the other side of the membrane. Through this membrane white blood cells and red blood cells, proteins, platelets can not pass. To prevent loss of substances like amino acids, sugars and salts are added to sterile solutions so, their diffusion from the blood is offset by an equal movement in opposite direction. The shortage of diffusible materials in the blood can be remedied by including them in solution, where they join the circulation. In hemodialysis, water is not removed because its concentration of it is less than that in the solution. The blood dilution that would result from this particular process is prevented by ultrafiltration, where the water with dissolved materials is forced via membrane by maintaining the blood at a higher pressure than the solution.

What are some dialyzable substances in this process?

Dialyzable substances are defined as the substance's removal with dialysis. Characteristics of these dialyzable substances are lower molecular mass, high water solubility, low protein binding capacity, prolonged elimination, and a small volume of distribution. Some of the dialyzable substances are ethylene glycol, procainamide, methanol, isopropyl alcohol, lithium, bromide, ethanol, acetone, etc.