Kidneys

Kidneys

The kidneys are bean-shaped, fist-sized organs that filter the blood in the body to remove wastes and to maintain proper levels of various substances in the blood. As one might imagine, they provide a valuable function in the body, ensuring that wastes do not accumulate, potentially causing health problems. As a result, a malfunctioning kidney is a cause for serious concern.

About 20% of the blood pumped out by the heart goes directly to the kidneys via the renal artery. Once the blood enters the kidneys, it is pumped up into the nephrons, tiny structures that filter the blood. Cleaned blood is sent out from the renal vein, returning to the heart for circulation to the rest of the body, while waste products drain to the bladder through the ureters. These organs are equipped to handle a very high volume of blood every 24 hours, and kidneys can even adapt to do the job independently, in the event that one fails, or is removed.