HUMAN KIDNEY
1. What is the Kidney?
- The kidney is a bean-shaped organ in your body.
- You have two kidneys, located on either side of your spine, just below your ribs.
- They filter your blood to remove waste, extra water, and toxins, creating urine.
2. Functions of the Kidney
- Filtration: Cleans the blood by removing waste products like urea and creatinine.
- Balancing Fluids: Maintains the right balance of water and electrolytes (like sodium, potassium, and calcium).
- Regulating Blood Pressure: Produces a hormone called renin, which helps control blood pressure.
- Making Red Blood Cells: Produces erythropoietin, a hormone that tells the bone marrow to make more red blood cells.
- Bone Health: Activates Vitamin D, which helps your body absorb calcium and keeps bones strong.
3. Kidney Structure
- Cortex: The outer part where filtration begins.
- Medulla: The inner part, where urine collects before leaving the kidney.
- Nephrons: Tiny filtering units inside the kidneys (you have about 1 million in each kidney!).
- Ureter: Tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder.
4. How Do Kidneys Work?
- Blood enters the kidneys through the renal artery.
- Inside the nephron, blood is filtered:
- Glomerulus: Removes waste and extra water.
- Tubules: Adjusts the amount of water, salts, and other substances that are kept or removed.
- Clean blood leaves through the renal vein, and waste exits as urine.
5. Common Kidney Problems
- Kidney Stones: Hard crystals formed by minerals in urine.
- Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD): Gradual loss of kidney function.
- Kidney Failure: When kidneys stop working and require dialysis or a transplant.
- UTI (Urinary Tract Infection): Infection that can reach the kidneys if untreated.
6. How to Keep Kidneys Healthy
- Drink plenty of water.
- Eat a balanced diet with low salt and sugar.
- Exercise regularly.
- Avoid smoking and limit alcohol.
- Manage conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure.
Nice information