Like, when you take much salt or much caffeine into your body, how do they know that those substances are in excess?
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It's a pretty complicated system.
Here is a very superficial overview:
http://www.kidney-facts.com/kidneys-heal…
Here is a more detailed explanation:
http://www.nda.ox.ac.uk/wfsa/html/u09/u0…
It's a lot more then just simple filtering.
Here is a very superficial overview:
http://www.kidney-facts.com/kidneys-heal…
Here is a more detailed explanation:
http://www.nda.ox.ac.uk/wfsa/html/u09/u0…
It's a lot more then just simple filtering.
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imagine your kidneys as a strainer
what if you put too much flour in your strainer?
at first, the strainer will filter those unwanted parts of the flour. simple as that.
but then, when too much unwanted particles accumulate, your strainer begins to function poorly and begins to filter less and less.
over time, when your strainer is finally full of unwanted particles, it becomes clogged. or in the kidneys case, it becomes damaged.
dont think of your kidneys as "knowing" what it filters. just like a strainer, it will filter what it can.
when it becomes damaged, it will simply stop functioning
of course the human body can make certain repairs on itself when not so heavy damage occurs, unlke the strainer. hehe..
what if you put too much flour in your strainer?
at first, the strainer will filter those unwanted parts of the flour. simple as that.
but then, when too much unwanted particles accumulate, your strainer begins to function poorly and begins to filter less and less.
over time, when your strainer is finally full of unwanted particles, it becomes clogged. or in the kidneys case, it becomes damaged.
dont think of your kidneys as "knowing" what it filters. just like a strainer, it will filter what it can.
when it becomes damaged, it will simply stop functioning
of course the human body can make certain repairs on itself when not so heavy damage occurs, unlke the strainer. hehe..