Final answer:
The statement regarding the renal arteries delivering one-fourth of the cardiac output to the kidneys each minute is false. In fact, they deliver approximately 20 percent of the cardiac output, which is around 1 liter of blood per minute, not 1.2 liters as stated.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the large renal arteries deliver one-fourth of the total cardiac output to the kidneys each minute is false. In reality, approximately 20 percent of the total cardiac output, which is about one liter, is delivered to the kidneys for filtration under resting conditions. This blood volume represents a substantial portion of the cardiac output considering the kidneys' role in filtering waste, reabsorbing nutrients, regulating blood volume and pressure, and producing urine.
Just for context, the heart pumps about 5 liters of blood per minute, and since 20 percent of this goes to the kidneys, that equates to about 1 liter per minute, not the 1.2 liters as implied in the initial statement. The kidneys are incredible in their function, processing this amount of blood consistently, which leads to the production of filtrate that after reabsorption results in the formation of 1-2 liters of urine per day.
Therefore, it is clear that the renal circulation plays a critical role in maintaining the body's fluid balance and waste removal through a constant and significant blood supply.