Normal kidney function refers to the physiological state in which the kidneys adequately filter the blood, excrete metabolic waste, and maintain the body's internal balance of fluid, electrolytes, and acid-base status. It is sustained by the coordinated activity of the nephrons, where glomerular filtration produces …
Normal kidney function refers to the physiological state in which the kidneys adequately filter the blood, excrete metabolic waste, and maintain the body's internal balance of fluid, electrolytes, and acid-base status. It is sustained by the coordinated activity of the nephrons, where glomerular filtration produces an ultrafiltrate of plasma that the tubules then modify through reabsorption and secretion to yield the final urine, conserving water, sodium, and other essential solutes while eliminating urea, creatinine, and excess ions. Healthy kidneys also perform endocrine functions, regulating blood pressure through the renin-angiotensin system, stimulating red blood cell production via erythropoietin, and activating vitamin D for calcium and bone homeostasis. Renal function is quantified clinically by the glomerular filtration rate, estimated from serum creatinine and other markers, with normal values reflecting intact filtration and the absence of significant glomerular or tubular damage. Deviations such as a falling filtration rate, rising urea or creatinine, proteinuria, or abnormal electrolytes signal impairment and the transition toward acute or chronic kidney disease. Understanding normal renal physiology provides the reference against which dysfunction is detected and disease progression is assessed. The journal publishes peer-reviewed research in nephrology, including renal physiology, the assessment of kidney function, and the pathophysiology of renal impairment.
12 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 12 articles above have been cited 84 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Normal Kidney Function, linking to each citing work.