Kidneys 101: How Your Body's Filters Work

Let's explore the basic structure and location of the kidneys!The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located on either side of your spine, just below the rib cage.Each kidney is approximately the size of your fist.The kidneys are vital organs that receive about twenty to twenty-five percent of all blood pumped by the heart.Inside each kidney are millions of tiny filtering units called nephrons.Each nephron consists of two main parts: a filter called the glomerulus, and a tubule.These nephrons work together like a complex filtration system, processing the blood that flows through the kidneys.Blood enters the kidney through the renal artery, carrying various substances that need to be filtered.The blood flows into the glomerulus, a specialized cluster of capillaries that acts as the kidney's primary filter.In the glomerulus, different substances are filtered based on their size and chemical properties.Waste products, excess water, and some minerals pass through the glomerular filter.While larger molecules like proteins and blood cells remain in the bloodstream.The filtered fluid then enters the proximal tubule, where the second stage of processing begins.In the tubules, the body reabsorbs needed substances like minerals and water, while continuing to process waste products.The remaining fluid, now concentrated with waste products, continues through the tubule system for final processing.Your kidneys perform an incredible daily filtration process.Each day, they filter about 150 quarts of blood to produce just 1 to 2 quarts of urine.The urine contains various waste products that need to be removed from your body.Beyond waste removal, kidneys perform several crucial functions for maintaining body homeostasis.They help regulate blood pressure, stimulate red blood cell production, maintain bone health, and balance pH levels.Kidneys are especially important for maintaining proper levels of minerals like calcium and phosphorus.Let's review the key functions of your kidneys.Thanks for learning about kidney function with Spark.E!