Kidney Basics Overview

The kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs found below the rib cage on either side of the spine. Each kidney is roughly 4 -5 inches in length and weighs 1/3 of a pound. The kidneys filters over 30 gallons of blood per day and produces urine which contains excess waste, electrolytes and water. The blood flow to the kidneys ...

How Kidneys Work

Electrolytes are neither produced nor consumed by the body. The kidneys are responsible for maintaining the equilibrium of all of the electrolytes (such as sodium, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus). To maintain this balance, any excess electrolytes are excreted in the urine. A single function unit of the kidney is called a Nephron (just like a single functional unit in our ...

Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)

GFR stands for Glomerular Filtration Rate and it gives us a rough idea of the number of functioning nephrons. It tells us how well your kidneys are working. The normal GFR is 90-120 mL/min (180 L/day), and is higher in men than women. It varies depending upon age, sex, and muscle mass of an individual. In general, the lower the ...

Creatinine

Creatinine comes from the breakdown of creatine in your muscle.  It is produced by the body at a constant rate and eliminated through urine.  This makes it a good a marker to assess your kidney function. The higher the blood creatinine, the worse the kidney function. A blood test will tell you both numbers. Remember: GFR is only an estimate..it's not an exact ...

Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)

'BUN' stands for Blood Urea Nitrogen. Nitrogen is an essential element of amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein. When we eat protein-rich food, it is broken down by our digestive system into amino acids. These amino acids has 1 of 2 fates: It is either used to make protein for muscle formation or degraded in the liver ...

Functions of a Kidney

The kidneys maintain the environment required for the perfect functioning of your body’s cells. They remove waste and adjust for the elimination of water and electrolytes. The kidneys buffer body acid to balance our pH levels (normal ranges from 7.35 to 7.45). Acid accumulation lowers one’s blood pH, which could lead to cardiac arrest and death. The kidneys excrete waste ...