How the Kidneys Work

The human body is made up of many different cells and organs which function in many different ways to keep our bodies operating. Some of these organs are very useful and are so vital that we could not live without them. One useful organ in our bodies is the kidney. The kidneys are two organs located in the back of the abdomen in the human body where the left kidney sets higher then the right kidney. Kidneys are very important to have in the human body. They are the organs that keeps our blood system clean by separating and taking out toxins and waste that may have entered the blood stream. The human body is capable of surviving with just one kidney working properly. Another unique function of the kidneys is that they reserve salt, electrolytes and water for our bodies. The human body is composed 70% of water.

The kidneys, which are a dark-reddish color are approximately 5 inches long and about 2 inches thick, weighing about 5 ounces for fully developed humans. The structure of the kidneys contain different parts that help with the proper operation of the kidneys. The cortex, pelvis and the medulla are three main parts that make up the design of the kidney. The cortex is the outer part of the kidney where the blood is cleaned. The medulla is the interior portion of the kidney where the total amount of water and salt in urine is controlled. The pelvis is where urine is collected from the body. In some cases, this part of the kidneys production is sometimes why people have kidney stones. This results from the salts in the pelvis forming a solid mass that does not allow urine to empty out of the medulla. Inside of the cortex is where you will find millions of nephrons which are the main source for cleaning the bloodstream with up to approximately 43 gallons a water per day. Other parts of the kidney that are important are the renal vein, renal artery and the ureter. The renal vein carries blood away from the kidneys back to the heart, while the renal artery carries blood from the left side of the heart to the kidney. This production is very important because blood in the renal artery must have the right pressure or the kidney will not be able to clean the blood properly. Blood that comes to the kidney has toxins and wastes in it called urea which must be removed by the kidney. If this doesn’t happen, many diseases could set in. The ureter is the source that takes the urine down to the bladder continuously.

All of these parts of the kidneys have their own operations which are responsible for why we urinate during the day. Wastes in our blood come from the things we eat during the day. Foods that we eat are used for energy. Particles that the body does not take in as energy are stored as wastes in the blood. The kidneys are the source that will clean and filter the blood. Once filtered, those wastes are turned into urine. Nephrons are the parts of the kidneys that filters the blood. Inside the nephron is the glomerulus, which is a vessel that acts as the filtering passage that allows waste to go through while it keeps cells and proteins in the blood. The waste is then deposited in the urinary system. During this process, the kidney releases three hormones: calcitriol, renin, and erythropoietin. These hormones regulate how much salt is kept within the body. This helps with blood pressure cases. When there is too much water in the body, the body’s blood pressure increase. If there is too little water in the body, the body will dehydrate.

Our kidneys help stabilize homeostasis by controlling the amount of fluids in the body. Homeostasis is the equilibrium in the human body dealing with the systems and organs that keeps the body functioning properly. The blood that comes through the renal artery passes through the nephrons where the blood will then be cleaned and filtered into urine going through the ureters and off to the bladder. This process results in healthy kidneys. Failed kidneys can result from an unbalanced homeostasis or improper amounts of salt and water deposited in the body.

Learn more about the kidneys and how they function with the links provided below. Learn about different diseases caused from improper functioning kidneys and what to do in case of kidney failures.

What are the Human Kidneys?: learn more about what the kidneys are, parts of the kidneys, what the kidneys do, and the gomerulus.
The Kidneys and How They Work: learn the functions of the kidneys, diseases of the kidneys and why kidneys fail.
How Your Kidneys Work: learn why kidneys are important, causes of chronic kidney diseases, warning signs of kidney diseases and how diseases are detected.
Kidney Diseases: list of links all about kidney diseases, latest news, symptoms, diagnosis, nutrition, treatment, and much more.
Kidney Structure and the Nephron: PDF file of 13 pages all about the kidney structure and nephrons in kidneys.
Urinary System: a source all about the urinary system and its subdivisions.
All About the Urinary System: list of links to view photos of each part of the urinary system.
The Concept of Homeostasis: detailed information about homeostasis, urinary system, excretion, and the liver.
Maintaining Homeostasis: PDF file of maintaining homeostasis, water balance and the excretory system.
Anatomy of the Urinary System: learn all about how the kidneys and the urinary system works and facts about urine.
Kidneys and Blood Pressure: learn how the kidneys help regulate blood pressure and a list of links all about blood pressure: high blood pressure causes, statistics, measurement and treatment.
Hormones of the Kidney: detailed information about the three hormones that the kidney releases.
Fluid and Electrolyte Balance: learn what systems allows the kidneys to control the volume and pH of bodily fluids.