Practice Guide 2026
1. The kidneys re- waste
move
2. The Kidneys Bal- fluid and electrolytes
ance
3. Each kidney con- nephrons,
tains about a mil- and each nephron houses tiny structures
lion filtering units known as glomeruli where the blood is
called actually filtered. These nephrons are where the magic
happens
because this is where blood filtration and waste removal occurs.
4. BUN BUN, which stands for blood urea
nitrogen,
measures the amount of urea nitrogen,
a waste product, in the blood.
Now remembering the primary function
of the kidneys
is to remove waste, Now remembering the primary function
of the kidneys
is to remove waste,
elevated levels of this waste product in
the blood
should make us consider an issue in the kidneys.
5. GFR
, Sarah Michelle - GU Diagnostics Exam
Practice Guide 2026
6. Are BUN & Cre- nonspecific
at specific or non
specific lab val- - They simply just tell us the amount of waste that has built up.
ues? Never use these alone to state " the kidney is working or not working" They are non
specific and can be influenced by other things
7. What else could Diet high in protein
cause a high BUN dehydration
outside of simply
the kidney is not
working
8. Is creatinine More specific because it is far less likely to be attected by things like diet and
more or less spe- dehydration
cific than BUN?
9. GFR is what??? The GOLD STANDARD for renal function but the GFR is a more direct measurement
of kidney function.
It helps us detect kidney disease in its
early stages
before symptoms appear.
IT IS A DIRECT MEASUREMENT
10. What is creatine ? Creatinine is a ditterent kind of waste
product than BUN
because it actually comes from the normal wear and tear of muscles.
So if we are seeing high creatinine,the kidneys are more than likely going to
be implicated here