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The kidneys are bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist. They are located near the middle of the back, just below the rib cage, one on each side of the spine. The kidneys are sophisticated reprocessing machines. Every day, a person's kidneys process about 200 quarts of blood to sift out about 2 quarts of waste products and extra water. The wastes and extra water become urine, which flows to the bladder through tubes called ureters. The bladder stores urine until releasing it through urination.
The kidneys remove wastes and water from the blood to form urine. Urine flows from the kidneys to the bladder through the ureters. Wastes in the blood come from the normal breakdown of active tissues, such as muscles, and from food. The body uses food for energy and self-repairs. After the body has taken what it needs from food, wastes are sent to the blood. If the kidneys did not remove them, these wastes would build up in the blood and damage the body. The actual removal of wastes occurs in tiny units inside the kidneys called nephrons. Each kidney has about a million nephrons. In the nephron, a glomerulus-which is a tiny blood vessel, or capillary-intertwines with a tiny urine-collecting tube called a tubule. The glomerulus acts as a filtering unit, or sieve, and keeps normal proteins and cells in the bloodstream, allowing extra fluid and wastes to pass through. A complicated chemical exchange takes place, as waste materials and water leave the blood and enter the urinary system.
In the nephron (left), tiny blood vessels intertwine with urine-collecting tubes. Each kidney contains about 1 million nephrons. At first, the tubules receive a combination of waste materials and chemicals the body can still use. The kidneys measure out chemicals like sodium, phosphorus, and potassium and release them back to the blood to return to the body. In this way, the kidneys regulate the body's level of these substances. The right balance is necessary for life. In addition to removing wastes, the kidneys release three important hormones: * erythropoietin, or EPO, which stimulates the bone marrow to make red blood cells * renin, which regulates blood pressure * calcitriol, the active form of vitamin D, which helps maintain calcium for bones and for normal chemical balance in the body
What else can I help you with?
How do e kidneys use blood from vessels?
No, the heart pumps blood. The kidneys remove waste products from blood.
An organ that filters wastes from blood in the kidneys is a?
An organ that filters wastes from blood besides the kidneys is the liver. The liver removes glucose and stores it for future use. It also aids the kidneys in toxin removal.
What is the main organ that the urinary system is commonly known to use?
Kidneys
How is blood filtered in kidneys?
Blood gets filtered because of the Nephrons, which are tiny little blood capillaries inside the kidneys.
How do the kidneys help maintaining homeostasis?
There are many functions of the kidneys that maintain homeostasis. In addition to filtering wastes, the kidneys use hormones to regulate blood pressure and altering the sodium and electrolyte balances to maintain proper fluid balances within the body. The kidneys help to maintain the internal balance in the body by excreting substances that change that balance. The kidneys also help to maintain water balance.
On which of these organs would the adrenal glands be located?
The adrenal glands are located on top of the kidneys.
What are some ways to take proper care of your kidneys?
use the bathroom whenever you have to go.
What intrarenal conditions involve kidney disease or direct injury to the kidneys?
lack of blood supply to the kidneys (ischemia) use of radiocontrast agents in patients with kidney problems drug abuse or overdose long-term use of nephrotoxic medications
Why are kidneys called kidneys?
The shape of your kidneys resemble the shape of the kidney bean.
Can amphetamines damage your kidneys?
Yes, amphetamines can potentially damage the kidneys, especially with prolonged use or high doses. They can cause increased blood pressure and dehydration, which may strain the kidneys and lead to acute kidney injury. Additionally, the use of amphetamines can lead to other health complications that may indirectly affect kidney function. It’s important to use these substances only as prescribed and under medical supervision.
Are kidneys a gland?
No, kidneys are organs.
Do arthropods have kidneys?
no they don't have kidneys
