If kidneys retain water in the blood instead of excreting it into the urine, what would be the effect on blood pressure? A) Blood pressure would increase B) Blood pressure would stay the same C) Blood pressure would decrease
Answer (1)
In the human body, the kidneys play a crucial role in regulating the balance of fluids, salts, and waste products. One important function of the kidneys is to manage the amount of water retained in the bloodstream versus the amount excreted into the urine.
What happens when the kidneys retain more water in the blood?
When the kidneys retain more water, the overall volume of blood in the circulatory system increases. Blood is composed of various components, including red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma (the liquid portion). Plasma is made up mostly of water, so when the amount of water in the blood increases, blood volume does too.
How does this affect blood pressure?
Increased Blood Volume: With a greater volume of blood, there is more fluid pressing against the walls of the blood vessels.
Increased Blood Pressure: This extra fluid pressure results in an increase in blood pressure because the heart must work harder to pump the greater volume of blood through the entire body.
The options provided in the multiple-choice question are:
A) Blood pressure would increase
B) Blood pressure would stay the same
C) Blood pressure would decrease
Given the explanation above, the correct choice is: A) Blood pressure would increase.
The kidneys' ability to regulate blood volume and pressure is an essential component of maintaining homeostasis in the body, and imbalances can lead to conditions such as hypertension.
