Renal physiology series: Part 6 of 8. The aging kidney: structure, function, and nursing practice implications.

The effects of normal aging on the kidney are both structural and functional. Morphologic changes involve the renal blood vessels, glomeruli, tubules, and interstitium. Physiologic changes include alterations in renal plasma flow, glomerular filtration rate, filtration fraction, tubular transport, concentrating ability, acidification, the renal handling of electrolytes, and patterns of urine flow and electrolyte excretion. The structural and functional changes that occur in the senescent kidney, and the implications for nursing practice are discussed.