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EntityQ1542839· pop 31· linked from 198 articles

glomerular filtration rate

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Also known as renal function, creatinine clearance

renal function test, based on water filtered out of plasma through glomerular capillary walls into Bowman's capsules

~37 min read

Encyclopedic overview

Diagram showing a schematic nephron and its blood supply. The basic physiologic mechanisms of handling fluid and electrolytes by the nephron—filtration, secretion, reabsorption, and excretion—are labelled.

Renal functions include maintaining an acid–base balance; regulating fluid balance; regulating sodium, potassium, and other electrolytes; clearing toxins; absorption of glucose, amino acids, and other small molecules; regulation of blood pressure; production of various hormones, such as erythropoietin; and activation of vitamin D.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “glomerular filtration rate” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.