The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs situated behind your abdomen, below your ribs, and on each side of your spine. Each kidney is 4 – 5 inches in length or a fist size. Your kidneys filter your blood.

They regulate the body’s fluid balance by producing urine, eliminating wastes and excess water, and maintaining the proper electrolyte levels. They receive roughly 40 blood passages per day from the entire blood in your body. Each kidney has approximately one million microscopic filters known as nephrons. Even if only 10% of your kidneys function normally, you might not experience any signs or issues.

In this blog, you’ll learn how kidneys work, their functions, and why they are so important.

How kidneys work?

The normal working mechanism of kidneys is essential for a healthy life. About a million nephrons, or filtering cells, make up each kidney. Each nephron includes the following:

• Glomeruli – the filter
• Renal tubules

The nephrons function in two steps as follows:

1. Glomeruli

The first stage of filtering your blood is carried out by microscopic blood arteries called glomeruli. Blood is filtered as it enters the glomerulus, and any residual fluid travels along the tubule. Smaller molecules, wastes, and fluid—mostly water—can pass through the glomerulus’ thin walls and into the tubule.

Proteins and blood cells, which are larger molecules, remain in the blood vessel. This procedure is called Glomerular filtration.

2. Renal tubules

The tubule is accompanied by a blood vessel. These microscopic tubes reabsorb wastes, such as excess acid and fluids, and eliminate them through diffusion and also restore water, nutrients, and minerals your body needs (including salt and potassium). Urine is created in the tubule from any remaining liquid and waste.

Why are the kidneys important?

As most people know, removing waste materials and extra bodily fluid is one of the kidneys’ primary functions, and the efficiency of these functions depends on how kidneys work. Additionally, your kidneys eliminate the acid made by your body’s cells and keep the levels of water, minerals, and salts in your blood—such as sodium, calcium, potassium, and phosphorus—in a healthy range.

Additionally, the kidneys create hormones that control the functioning of other organs, such as:

• Control blood pressure.
• Calcium metabolism
• Produce red blood cells
• Keep your bones healthy

About 200 quarts of fluid are filtered and returned to the bloodstream by the kidneys every 24 hours as part of their life-sustaining function. Two quarts of urine are excreted from the body, and around 198 quarts are retrieved. Our bladders hold urine for between one and eight hours until we expel it.

Functions of a healthy kidney

Some of the basic functions that a healthy kidney performs are:

• Maintain your blood’s acid-base balance (pH balance).
• Eliminate waste products from the body
• Produce glucose if your blood lacks sufficient sugar.
• Remove drugs from the body
• Manufacture renin, a protein that raises blood pressure
• Create active vitamin D, which supports strong, healthy bones.
• Produce the hormones erythropoietin, which aids in the production of red blood cells, and calcitriol, a type of vitamin D that helps the body absorb calcium.

Symptoms of a kidney problem

You can prevent serious kidney problems by detecting mild kidney problems at their early stages. Some common symptoms of a kidney problem are:

• Increased or decreased urination
• Foamy urine
• Blood in urine
• Trouble sleeping
• Inability to concentrate
• Fatigue
• Foot or ankle swelling
• Muscle cramps
• Reduced appetite

The bottom line

Kidneys are one of the vital organs in your body that are essential for the normal functioning of your body and, ultimately, for a healthy life. Many people with kidney problems want to know how kidneys work and what is important about them.

So, here it is – the kidney’s main function is urine formation and removing wastes/toxins from the body. You can keep your kidneys healthy by exercising regularly, avoiding salty foods, drinking plenty of water, and using medications with caution.