Question

The kidneys function to produce hormones, excrete wastes, regulate blood pressure, and maintain ion balance. Which of the following is another function of the kidneys?

O Generate body heat
O Regulate osmolarity
O Produce red blood cells
O Maintain blood glucose

Answer 1

The kidneys help to regulate osmolarity by adjusting the balance of water and salts in the blood, which is essential for the proper functioning of cells.

Step-by-step explanation:

The kidneys possess a myriad of functions vital to maintaining homeostasis in the body. One of the additional important functions of the kidneys is to regulate osmolarity. This involves the adjustment of the balance of water and salts in the blood, which is crucial for the proper functioning of cells. The kidneys' role in regulating blood pressure, electrolyte balance, and the production of urine all contribute to maintaining the proper osmolar balance in the body's fluids.

Another crucial hormone produced by the kidneys is erythropoietin, which stimulates the bone marrow to produce red blood cells in response to hypoxia (low levels of oxygen in the blood). However, it is not the kidneys themselves that produce red blood cells, but rather this hormone that influences their production elsewhere in the body.

The kidneys are also intimately involved in maintaining the pH balance in the body, as well as the concentration of various solutes in the blood. Through their filtration processes, the kidneys manage the acid-base homeostasis and play a part in the overall regulation of the body's internal environment.