TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Development of Renal Function A1 - Angelo, Joseph A2 - Kline, Mark W. PY - 2018 T2 - Rudolph's Pediatrics, 23e AB - Concurrent with the morphogenesis of the kidney discussed in Chapter 460, functional development of the fetal kidney also progresses with increasing gestational age. Prenatally, the placenta regulates renal clearance and fluid and electrolyte homeostasis, while the primary function of the kidney is the production of urine in order to maintain the volume of the amniotic fluid. Renal development begins at 5 weeks of gestation, followed by the appearance of rudimentary nephrons, which begin producing urine at 10 weeks. The critical role of the kidney in maintaining the amniotic fluid is highlighted in situations when abnormalities of renal development result in oligo- or anhydramnios leading to significant postnatal morbidity and mortality, particularly pulmonary hypoplasia. In the later stages of gestation, urinary output, renal tubular function, and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) continue to increase with gestational age. By 32 to 34 weeks of gestation, nephrogenesis is complete, following which no new nephron units are formed. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/03/29 UR - accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1182911925 ER -