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The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located in the abdominal cavity, one on each side of the spine. They are part of the urinary system and their main function is to filter blood and create urine as a waste byproduct. The kidneys are associated with several muscles in the body, including the psoas major muscle, the quadratus lumborum, and the transversus abdominis muscle. The ureters, which carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder, are also made up of muscle. However, the kidneys themselves are not muscles but organs that play a crucial role in maintaining the body's fluid balance, regulating blood pressure, and eliminating excess waste and water from the body.
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What You'll Learn
The kidneys are bean-shaped organs
The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located in the abdominal cavity, one on each side of the spine. They are placed retroperitoneally in the upper left and right abdominal quadrants, with the right kidney usually slightly lower than the left due to the liver's displacement. The kidneys are about the size of a closed fist, with dimensions of roughly 10 to 12 cm in length, 5 to 7 cm in width, and 3 to 5 cm in thickness. They are reddish-brown in colour and weigh between 150 to 200 grams in males and 120 to 135 grams in females.
The kidneys are part of the urinary system and play a crucial role in maintaining the body's homeostasis. Their primary function is to filter blood and remove wastes, producing urine as a waste byproduct. They help regulate the body's fluid balance, maintaining the correct levels of water, salts, and other substances like potassium and sodium. The kidneys also play a role in blood pressure regulation and the production of erythropoietin, which controls red blood cell production.
Blood enters the kidneys through the renal artery and is filtered in the nephron, specifically in the glomerulus. The filtered blood exits through the renal vein, while the urine formed in the nephron flows out of the kidney through the ureter to the bladder. The nephron is the structural and functional unit of the kidney, and each adult human kidney contains approximately one million nephrons.
The kidneys also perform functions independent of the nephrons. For example, they convert a precursor of vitamin D into its active form, calcitriol, and they synthesise the hormones erythropoietin and renin. The kidneys are surrounded and protected by layers of fat and connective tissue. The upper parts of the kidneys are partially protected by the 11th and 12th ribs, and the diaphragm covers the superior half of each kidney, causing the kidneys to move up and down during respiration.
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They are part of the urinary system
The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist, located in the upper left and right abdominal quadrants, one on each side of the spine. They are part of the urinary system, whose function is to filter blood and create urine as a waste byproduct.
The kidneys receive blood from the paired renal arteries, and blood exits into the paired renal veins. Each kidney is attached to a ureter, a tube that carries urine to the bladder. The kidneys are the primary organs of the urinary system and are responsible for filtering the blood, removing waste, and excreting waste in the form of urine.
The urinary system also includes the bladder and urethra. The bladder stores urine, and the urethra allows urine to pass outside the body. The brain signals the bladder muscles to tighten, squeezing urine out of the bladder, and at the same time, signals the sphincter muscles to relax to let urine exit the bladder through the urethra.
The kidneys are essential for maintaining a healthy balance of water, salts, and minerals in the body. They help eliminate liquid waste, such as urea, and regulate the balance of chemicals like potassium and sodium, as well as water. The kidneys also play a crucial role in blood pressure regulation and the production of erythropoietin, which controls red blood cell production in the bone marrow.
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Kidneys filter blood and create urine
The kidneys are two reddish-brown bean-shaped organs located in the upper left and right abdominal quadrants, one on each side of the spine. They are part of the urinary system, which acts as the body's filtration system.
The kidneys receive blood from the paired renal arteries and filter about a half cup of blood every minute, removing waste and extra water to make urine. The blood is filtered by the tiny blood vessels of the glomeruli, which are part of the nephrons. The nephron is the structural and functional unit of the kidney, and each adult human kidney contains around 1 million nephrons.
The filtered fluid moves along the tubule, and the blood vessel reabsorbs most of the water, minerals, and nutrients that the body needs. The remaining fluid and wastes in the tubule become urine. In a single day, the kidneys filter about 150 quarts of blood, with only 1 to 2 quarts becoming urine.
The urine flows from the kidneys to the bladder through two thin tubes of muscle called ureters, one on each side of the bladder. The bladder stores the urine until it is eliminated from the body.
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They are located in the abdominal cavity
The kidneys are located in the abdominal cavity, with one on each side of the spine. They are placed in the upper left and right abdominal quadrants, just below the rib cage, and are angled slightly obliquely. The right kidney is typically slightly lower and smaller than the left, due to the asymmetry within the abdominal cavity caused by the position of the liver. The right kidney sits just below the diaphragm and posterior to the liver, while the left kidney sits below the diaphragm and posterior to the spleen.
The kidneys are surrounded by two layers of fat. The outer layer is a layer of fat tissue called the pararenal or paranephric fat body, which separates the kidneys from the muscles of the abdominal wall. The upper parts of the kidneys are partially protected by the 11th and 12th ribs. On top of each kidney is an adrenal gland.
The superior half of each kidney is covered by the diaphragm, which is why the kidneys move up and down during respiration. The inferior half of the kidney surface can be divided into three vertical stripes, with the medial stripe representing the impression of the psoas major muscle, the central stripe the quadratus lumborum, and the lateral stripe the transversus abdominis muscle.
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Dialysis and kidney transplantation are used to treat kidney failure
The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist, located in the upper left and right abdominal quadrants. They are part of the urinary system and are responsible for filtering blood, maintaining a healthy balance of water, salts, and minerals in the body, and eliminating excess fluid, salts, and byproducts of metabolism. The main functions of the kidneys include:
- Regulating blood osmolarity and pH
- Regulating blood volume and blood pressure
- Producing hormones
- Filtering foreign substances
- Converting a precursor of vitamin D to its active form, calcitriol
- Synthesizing the hormones erythropoietin and renin
Kidney failure occurs when kidney function drops below 10-15%. At this stage, the kidneys are no longer able to keep a person alive without assistance. Dialysis and kidney transplantation are the two primary treatments for kidney failure.
Dialysis is a treatment that filters waste, toxins, and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys are unable to do so effectively. There are two types of dialysis: peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis. Hemodialysis is the most common type, utilizing a machine to remove blood from the body, typically from a vein in the arm. Peritoneal dialysis can be performed at home and may offer health benefits and less disruption to a person's lifestyle. Dialysis is not a cure for kidney failure, and it is not able to replace all the functions of healthy kidneys. However, it can be a lifesaving treatment, and many people on dialysis are able to live active lives, including working, raising families, and traveling.
Kidney transplantation is another treatment option for kidney failure. It involves transplanting a kidney from a living or deceased donor into the recipient's body. The transplanted kidney is connected to the recipient's bladder, allowing urine to flow. While a kidney transplant offers a more active life without the need for dialysis, it is not a cure for kidney failure. The recipient will need to take anti-rejection medication for as long as they have the transplanted kidney, and the kidney will require ongoing management and care.
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Frequently asked questions
The kidneys are two reddish-brown bean-shaped blood-filtering organs that are a multilobar, multipapillary form of mammalian kidneys, usually without signs of external lobulation. They are located on the left and right in the retroperitoneal space, and in adult humans are about 12 centimetres (4+1⁄2 inches) in length.
No, the kidney is not a muscle. The kidneys are organs that filter the blood, remove the wastes, and excrete the wastes in the urine. The kidneys are surrounded by a thick layer of adipose tissue, called perirenal fat, which helps to protect them. The posterior surfaces of both kidneys are related to certain neurovascular structures and muscles.
The main function of the kidney is to eliminate excess bodily fluid, salts, and byproducts of metabolism – this makes kidneys key in the regulation of acid-base balance, blood pressure, and many other homeostatic parameters. The kidney is a very important organ in regards to body homeostasis.
