Why is it possible to have only one kidney?

Answer 1

The body needs to purge the "impurities" it obtains by way of consumption of liquid and food. By doing this the kidneys through diffusion of certain substances, mainly salt or NaCl, diffuses things that the body does not need out of the kidneys and into the urine for expulsion from the body. Now pending any significant increase in impurities the body can suffice with only one kidney working the filtration and expulsion routine . Persons who have donated a kidney are told to withhold from substances, foods, drinks etc. that can cause the kidney to over exert itself.

Your kidneys are there to:

1. filter wastes and extra fluid from your blood

2. keep the proper balance of minerals like sodium, phosphorus, calcium, and potassium in your blood

3. help maintain a healthy blood pressure

4. make hormones that keep your blood and bones healthy, one of them is all that is really needed to do this job.

You can survive on one kidney since having only one can still do all this but there are still some small problems that come with having only one kidney. They are small and will you might not notice them till a while(years) later. The affects are:

1. High blood pressure

2. Proteinuria (Excessive protein in the urine, this can be a sign of kidney damage)

3. Reduced GFR (The glomerular filtration rate, this will affect how well your blood is cleaned.)

They will not affect your health if they are under control, so see you doctor regularly to make sure they are.

(i hope this answered your question, and listsfromhttp:/kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/solitarykidney

Having only one kidney is actually not uncommon. As long as the one kidney is doing the job, many people never know they only have one. My nephew in 3rd grade found out last year he only has one. MOST of the problems listed above are not actually common for people with only one kidney.

Answer 2

Humans are very complicated biological machines. Sometimes we're not entirely correct put together when we're born. Sometimes, science can figure out what's happened, sometimes no one can say.

Answer 3

It is ok for you to have only one kidney. The kidneys are quite amazing. The remaining kidney will often grow in size and will function very well on its own, easily taking over the job of the missing kidney. Someone with only one kidney should however be careful not to damage the remaining kidney with heavy drinking, smoking or drug use.

Answer 4

No. You have two kidneys.