Final answer:
The kidneys receive about 20% of the total blood pumped by the heart each minute. This blood supply facilitates critical renal processes by delivering 20% of resting circulation to the kidneys. The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is a measure of the volume of filtrate formed by the kidneys per minute.
Step-by-step explanation:
The kidneys are vital organs that filter waste from the blood and maintain the body's fluid and electrolyte balance. They receive a significant amount of blood from the heart each minute for filtration. The kidneys receive about 20% of the total amount of blood pumped by the heart each minute. This large blood supply delivers 20% of resting circulation to the kidneys for crucial processes that include filtering, reabsorption, and secretion.
The renal plasma flow, which is the volume of blood plasma delivered to the kidneys per minute, is calculated by taking into account the hematocrit value of an individual. For a person with a hematocrit of 45, the renal plasma flow is 55 percent of the blood flow per minute. Given that the heart pumps approximately 5 liters of blood per minute at rest, about one liter (or 20%) enters the kidneys for filtration, contributing to a significant glomerular filtration rate (GFR). The GFR is an important measure of kidney function, and it refers to the volume of filtrate formed by both kidneys per minute.