Biology B Tutorial 8 (Week 11) - Renal System Tutorial Eight-Renal System Maintaining homeostasis could be considered the cornerstone of our survival, and the regulation of bodily fluids within tight limits is no exception. Like the majority of body systems, the renal system works very closely with many other systems constantly monitoring and adjusting its output to keep the body working at its optimum. The renal system is important far beyond simply its role as the "urine producer". It is involved in maintaining water and ion balance for our bodily fluids, regulating blood pressure and acid-base balance, regulating red blood cell production and vitamin D activity. The main organ of the renal system is the kidney, of which the nephron is the functional unit. 1. Define the following terms: Solute: Solvent: Osmosis: Osmolarity: Osmotic pressure: Osmoregulator: Osmoconformer: 1 Biology B Tutorial Eight-Renal System 2. Label the following two diagrams incorporating as many structures as you can remember from the lectures: (a) Kidney (b) Nephron 2