This little book was assembled from the authors' lectures to medical students and was originally published as one volume in the series Human Physiology, edited by O. H. Gauer, K. Kramer, and R. Jung. The editors intended that each volume in this series be independent of the others and we have kept to this purpose. We have included here only material that we feel is necessary for medical students to know in order to understand kidney function in health and, by later extrapolation, in disease. The contents rest on accepted principles estab lished by experiments, and little space is given to what is controversial, hypo thetical, or unresolved. We are pleased that Dr. Coxon has been motivated to prepare an English language version of this text. We hope that it will serve as a ready reference and review source for the beleaguered medical student. P. Deetjen J. W. Boylan K.

Inhalt
Task of the Kidney.- Morphology of the Kidney.- Tubular Transport.- The Intratubular Methods.- Solute Transport Through the Tubular Cells.- Electrophysiology of the Nephron.- Electrolyte Transport.- Energy Metabolism of the Kidney.- Ultrastructure of the Nephron.- Trans-tubular Water Flux.- Peritubular Factors Affecting Reabsorption.- Effect of Aldosterone on the Nephron.- Calcium Reabsorption in the Kidney.- Tubular Transport of K+ in the Kidney.- Reabsorption of Glucose in the Kidney.- Phosphate Reabsorption in the Kidney.- Sulfate Reabsorption in the Kidney.- Reabsorption of Amino Acids in the Kidney.- Uric Acid Transport.- Reabsorption of Protein in the Kidney.- Transport of Urea.- Reabsorption of Bicarbonate in the Kidney.- Mechanisms of Bicarbonate Transport.- Hydrogen Ion Transport.- Excretion of Hydrogen Ions.- Excretion of Titratable Acid.- Excretion of Ammonia.- Secretion of Organic Acids.- Specificity of the Transport System for Organic Acids.- Non-Ionic Diffusion.- Renal Extraction.- Measurement of Renal Plasma Flow.- Renal Hemodynamics.- Vascular Anatomy of the Kidney.- Localization of the Renal Vascular Resistance.- Regulation of Renal Blood Flow.- The Arterio-Venous Oxygen Difference Across the Kidney.- The Intrarenal Distribution of Blood Flow.- Medullary Blood Flow.- Urine-Concentrating Mechanism.- Importance of the Medulla.- Principle of a Counter-Current Multiplier.- Experimental Evidence for the Counter-Current System.- The Modus Operandi of the Counter-Current System in the Kidney.- Role of Urea in the Concentrating Process81.- Significance of the Medullary Blood Flow in Relation to Concentrating Ability.- Counter-Current Diffusion.- Significance of the Urine-Concentrating Mechanism.- Water Diuresis and the Effect of Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH).- Evolution of the Kidney.- References.- Salt and Water Balance.- Water as the Basis of Life.- Solvent Properties of Water.- Thermal Properties of Water.- Neutrality and Ionization Constant.- Input and Output of Water.- Water Absorption from the Gut.- The Body Fluids.- Composition and Ionic Content of the Body Fluids.- Volume Regulation in the Fluid Compartments and Sodium Balance.- Survival in Conditions of Water Shortage.- Physiological Effects of Dehydration.- Survival at Sea.- Desalination of Sea Water for Drinking Purposes.- Water Supplies in Outer Space.- References.