Students Learn about Kidney Function through Dissection

Sheep Kidney Dissection

Nash Community College instructor Nahel Awadallah recently led his Anatomy and Physiology II class in an exercise highlighting the urinary system and kidney anatomy. Students dissected sheep kidneys during the lab exploring the anatomical structure and related functions while learning to identify the nephron or functional part of the kidney. Human and sheep kidneys share the same functions such as retaining fluid homeostasis, blood pressure and excretion of waste.

Kidney functions consist of maintaining fluid balance, regulating and filtering minerals, and filtering waste materials and toxic substances. Other functions include blood pressure homeostasis, acid and base balance, and the promotion of red blood cell production in bone marrow.

At the end of the lab, students were able to explain the functional processes and composition as well as the transport processes involved in eliminating drugs, wastes, and foreign substances from the body.

Nahel Awadallah has been a member of NCC’s Natural Sciences faculty since 2017. Prior to joining the college, he served at Johnston Community College as director of programs providing curricular leadership initiating, sustaining, delivering, or eliminating academic programs and college core curricula in accordance with strategic planning goals. Awadallah earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular Biology and a Master of Science degree in Microbiology, both from Long Island University.

NCC’s Anatomy and Physiology II BIO-169 course provides a continuation of the comprehensive study of the anatomy and physiology of the human body including topics related to endocrine, cardiovascular, lymphatic, respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems as well as metabolism, nutrition, acid-base balance, and fluid and electrolyte balance.