Contents:
- Medical Video: Symptoms of Kidney Disease
- Why is kidney important?
- How do kidneys work?
- What needs to be remembered
Medical Video: Symptoms of Kidney Disease
The kidneys are two nut-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist. They are located just below the ribs, one on each side of the spine. Every day, two kidneys filter around 120 to 150 liters of blood to produce about 1 to 2 liters of urine, consisting of excess waste and liquid. Urine flows from the kidney to the bladder through two thin tube muscles called the ureter, one on each side of the bladder. The bladder stores urine. The muscles in the bladder wall remain calm even though the bladder is filled with urine.
When bladder capacity is met, a signal will be sent to the brain telling someone to immediately look for a toilet. When the bladder is emptied, urine flows out of the body through a tube called the urethra, which is located at the bottom of the bladder. The male urethra is long, while in women it is shorter.
Why is kidney important?
The kidneys are important because they maintain composition, or stabilize blood, which allows the body to function properly. They also have the duty to:
- Prevent accumulation of waste and extra fluid in the body
- Keep the electrolyte level stable, such as sodium, potassium, and phosphate
- Making hormones that help
- Regulate blood pressure
- Make red blood cells
- Keep bones strong
How do kidneys work?
Each kidney consists of about one million filtering units called nephrons. Each nephron filters a small amount of blood. Nephrons include filters, called glomeruli, and tubules. Nephrons work through a two-step process. Glomerulus allows liquid and waste products to pass through it; However, preventing blood cells and large molecules, most of the protein, passes. The filtered liquid then passes through the tubules, which send the needed minerals back to the bloodstream and eliminate waste. The final product is urine.
What needs to be remembered
Every day, two kidneys filter around 120 to 150 liters of blood to produce about 1 to 2 liters of urine, consisting of waste and extra fluid.
The kidneys are important because they maintain the composition, stabilize the blood which allows the body to function properly.
Each kidney consists of about one million filtering units called nephrons. Nephrons include filters, called glomeruli, and tubules.
Nephrons work through a two-step process. Glomerulus allows liquid and waste products to pass through it; However, preventing blood cells and large molecules, most of the protein, passes. The filtered fluid then passes through the tubule, which again sends the needed minerals to the bloodstream and removes waste.
