Kidney Facts: Unlocking the Secrets of Our Body’s Filters

Our kidneys are two small, yet mighty, organs that play a vital role in keeping our bodies healthy. Let’s dive into some fascinating facts about kidneys:

Kidney Basics

– Kidneys filter waste and excess fluids from the blood, producing urine.
– Located in the lower back, below the rib cage, each kidney weighs around 4-6 ounces.
– Kidneys are about the size of a fist, with the right kidney slightly smaller and lower than the left.

Kidney Function

– Both kidneys filter around 200 liters of blood per day.
– The blood is filtered around 400 times per day, with each kidney containing about 1.5 million blood-filtering units called nephrons.
– Nephrons filter out urea and other waste products, which are then excreted in urine.

Regulation and Maintenance

– Kidneys regulate blood pressure by sending signals to blood vessels to constrict or dilate.
– When dehydration occurs, kidneys reduce urine production to conserve water.
– Kidneys also sense oxygen levels in the blood and trigger the production of red blood cells to carry more oxygen.

Kidney Health

– Risk factors for kidney disease include diabetes, high blood pressure, age, and family history.
– Drinking excessive water (around 7-8 liters per day) can harm kidneys.
– Kidney stones are hard deposits formed inside the kidneys, often due to concentrated urine.

Interesting Kidney Facts

– Although we’re born with two kidneys, one kidney can do the job of both.
– After age 40, the number of functional nephrons in each kidney decreases by around 1% per year.
– Kidneys are so efficient that we’re born with four times the number of nephrons we actually need.

Conclusion

Our kidneys are incredible organs that work tirelessly to keep our bodies healthy. By understanding how they function and how to maintain their health, we can appreciate the importance of these tiny but mighty filters.

References:

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/574564/kidney-facts
http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetailsKids.aspx?p=335&np=152&id=2409#5
https://www.kidney.org/prevention/your-kidneys-do-you-know-these-facts
https://www.worldkidneyday.org/facts/your-kidneys/
https://factslegend.org/35-facts-human-kidneys/