BIOS 225 Lab Report Week 3- Kidney Filtration Simulation
Introduction: The main functions of the kidneys is to filter blood and remove wastes and extra
water from the blood to form urine. The kidneys ensure that the blood retains essential
components such as blood cells, proteins, and glucose. By means of both osmosis and active
transport, the kidneys maintain a proper balance of water and salts in the blood. The actual
filtering occurs in tiny units inside your kidneys called nephrons. Every kidney has about a
million nephrons. In the nephron, tiny blood vessels called capillaries intertwine with tiny urine-
carrying tubes called tubules. A complicated chemical exchange takes place, as waste materials
and water leave your blood and enter your urinary system.
Purpose: To understand how the kidney filters blood and remove waste from your blood and
helps in maintaining homeostasis.
Materials and Methods: Scissors, ruler, a small cup, two plastic cylinders, one purple spoon,
one green spoon, one white spoon, labels (glucose transport, amino transport, salt transport,
nephron, glomerulus, renal artery, & renal vein), four large red beads, four large purple beads,
20 small green beads, 20 small purple beads, 20 small white beads, 20 small yellow beads, and
mesh tubing.
Results and Discussion: During this lab, students had to prepare and conduct the lab for
filtering kidneys.
Preparation:
(a) Take up and label “Nephron”
(b) Label two cylinders: one “Renal Artery” the other “Renal Vein”
(c) Label green spoon “Glucose Transport Protein”
(d) Label purple spoon “Amino Acid Transport Protein”
(e) Label white spoon “Salt”
(f) Separate beads into the “Nephron” cup, then place lid on cup.
a. 4 X large red beads (red blood cells)
b. 4 X large white beads (white blood cells)
c. 4 X large purple beads (protein)
d. 20 X small green beads (amino acids)
e. 20 X small purple beads (glucose)
f. 20 X small white beads (salt)
g. 20 X small yellow beads (urea)
(g) Cut mesh tubing (glomerulus) about 4” long
Procedures:
(a) Place all of the beads from the nephron cup into the cylinder labeled renal artery.
Introduction: The main functions of the kidneys is to filter blood and remove wastes and extra
water from the blood to form urine. The kidneys ensure that the blood retains essential
components such as blood cells, proteins, and glucose. By means of both osmosis and active
transport, the kidneys maintain a proper balance of water and salts in the blood. The actual
filtering occurs in tiny units inside your kidneys called nephrons. Every kidney has about a
million nephrons. In the nephron, tiny blood vessels called capillaries intertwine with tiny urine-
carrying tubes called tubules. A complicated chemical exchange takes place, as waste materials
and water leave your blood and enter your urinary system.
Purpose: To understand how the kidney filters blood and remove waste from your blood and
helps in maintaining homeostasis.
Materials and Methods: Scissors, ruler, a small cup, two plastic cylinders, one purple spoon,
one green spoon, one white spoon, labels (glucose transport, amino transport, salt transport,
nephron, glomerulus, renal artery, & renal vein), four large red beads, four large purple beads,
20 small green beads, 20 small purple beads, 20 small white beads, 20 small yellow beads, and
mesh tubing.
Results and Discussion: During this lab, students had to prepare and conduct the lab for
filtering kidneys.
Preparation:
(a) Take up and label “Nephron”
(b) Label two cylinders: one “Renal Artery” the other “Renal Vein”
(c) Label green spoon “Glucose Transport Protein”
(d) Label purple spoon “Amino Acid Transport Protein”
(e) Label white spoon “Salt”
(f) Separate beads into the “Nephron” cup, then place lid on cup.
a. 4 X large red beads (red blood cells)
b. 4 X large white beads (white blood cells)
c. 4 X large purple beads (protein)
d. 20 X small green beads (amino acids)
e. 20 X small purple beads (glucose)
f. 20 X small white beads (salt)
g. 20 X small yellow beads (urea)
(g) Cut mesh tubing (glomerulus) about 4” long
Procedures:
(a) Place all of the beads from the nephron cup into the cylinder labeled renal artery.
