When the kidneys are completely damaged and do not function properly, the condition is called renal failure. . In the patients suffering from renal failure the amount of toxic nitrogenous wastes (like urea) increases in the blood which is very harmful. In such patients the nitrogenous wastes are removed from the blood by using artificial kidney. The working of artificial kidney is based on the principle of haemodialysis.Haemodialysis is the separation of certain micromolecules from blood by use of selectively permeable membrane.
Artificial kidney possesses a number of fine cellophane tubes suspended in a tank having dialysis solution. The blood of the patient rich in nitrogenous waste materials is passed through the cellophane tubes. When the blood passes through cellophane tubes the nitrogenous waste materials present in the blood pass into the dialyzing solution through the process by diffusion. The blood coming out of the artificial kidney is pure blood which is sent back in the body of patient.
Test Your Understanding and Answer These Questions:
- Name the procedure used in the working of an artificial kidney.
- Give the name of the principle on which artificial kidneys work.
- What do you mean by renal failure? What are the reasons of renal failure?