Healthy Kidneys
The healthy
balance of our body’s chemistry is due in large part to the work of two
organs, the kidneys. These bean-shaped organs are located just above the
waist in your back and are partially protected by the ribs. Each kidney
is about the size of your fist.
Healthy
kidneys get rid of waste products and extra water. These waste products
are substances formed from the breakdown of protein in the foods you eat
and from normal muscle activity. Waste products and extra water are
removed from the body as urine.
The
entire body’s blood supply circulates through the kidneys every two
minutes. Inside each kidney are approximately one million tiny units
called nephrons. Nephrons filter and remove the excess fluid and
waste products from the blood. The excess fluid and waste products
filtered out of the kidneys are excreted as urine, which travel through
tubes called ureters into the bladder. The bladder is the
storage sac for urine. Urine is eventually carried from the body through
the urethra, a tube-like structure leading to the opening from
which you urinate. Healthy kidneys can remove about one to two quarts of
urine a day.
Normal
working kidneys have other jobs too. They make chemicals called hormones that help you to make red blood cells, build strong bones,
and keep your blood pressure under control.
When
kidneys are healthy and functioning normally, these major kidney
functions will continue. Our survival depends on these vital organs,
even though you can live a normal life with only one kidney. When
kidneys fail, waste products that are harmful to your body build up and
make you feel sick. This buildup in the blood happens because the
kidneys can no longer get rid of waste products in your body. This waste
products buildup is called uremia. If your kidneys are not
functioning normally and you have been told you have kidney disease,
click on kidney disease for more information that will help you
understand this disease.
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