In patients with severe kidney damage (such as advanced diabetic nephropathy), artificial renal support via a dialysis machine is required to replicate the essential filtration and regulation functions of the nephron.
The diagram below compares how a healthy nephron processes glucose and urea with the artificial exchange mechanisms in a clinical dialysis machine.
Compare how a healthy kidney nephron filters blood and selectively regulates glucose and urea with how a dialysis machine is designed to perform these functions.
In your answer, you should:
- Describe the mechanisms of filtration and selective transport in the healthy nephron.
- Explain how the composition of dialysis fluid and properties of the dialysis membrane ensure waste removal while preventing glucose loss.