Question

what effect would impared function of the liver or kidneys have on hormone concentration in the blood? why?

Answer 1

The impaired function of liver or kidney can disturb and affect the hormone concentration in blood because there are many hormones which are controlled by these organs. The kidney is responsible for production of two major hormones which are vitamin D and erythropoietin. The vitamin D is essential for many functions within the body and helps in the uptake of the calcium which is required for many functions like maintaining strong immunity and healthy bones. With malfunctioning of kidney, it is not able to regulate the production of vitamin D and hence it can cause defect in bones and weaken the immune system making the bone more prone to infection. The kidney is also responsible for production of erythropoietin which is produced as the level of oxygen reduces in blood. It initiates production of mature RBC and maintain healthy level of oxygen. With impaired kidney, it will not be able to sufficiently produce mature RBC and hence the blood will have low level of RBC. The prostaglandins is also produced by kidney which helps in production of renin and activates the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone hormone system and control blood pressure. When the kidney is not functioning properly, it is unable to produce all these hormones and hence the whole system of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system is disturbed leading to failure to maintain blood pressure. The liver is responsible for maintaining and managing wide range of hormones like thyroid hormones, cortisone and many adrenal hormones. It helps in regulating even the sex hormones and when the liver does not function properly, it causes hormonal imbalance and hence leads to extreme mood swings and decreased detoxification. It also leads to failure of production of appropriate growth hormones and impairs overall growth and development in the body. The liver also produces thrombopoietin and it helps in stimulating production of megakaryocytes. The megakaryocytes further starts production of platelets which helps in blood clotting. When the liver is damaged, it impacts even the process of blood clotting.