Meet Your Kidneys Part 1

Know How Your Waterworks Work

Have you played Monopoly? Of course, right? Who hasn't? There are so many different versions nowadays. So many variations from the classic board game. One of the properties in the classic board game which you can buy and own is the waterworks (Water Utility). It was one of my favorite properties to own.
120538178

Did you know your body has its own waterworks? Yes, it has. The kidneys. In fact, a water utility is so vital in the human body that we're blessed with a pair of them (two). You can survive on one kidney though. On the other hand, having two doesn't justify you abusing either one of them.

A Little (promise, only a little) Bit of Anatomy (What Makes Up Your Kidneys) and Physiology (How Your Kidneys Work)

If you're a fan of wrestling (World Wrestling Entertainment?), then you're familiar with a move they call a kidney punch.

A few wrestlers use this maneuver. You already know where your kidneys are located then. If not, they're located at your lower back, on both sides of your spinal column. They're hidden from the rest of the organs in your abdominal cavity, in a region called the retroperitoneal space. Each kidney is about the size of your fist.

Each of your kidneys can contain up to a million nephrons. A nephron acts as a filtering unit. It can selectively filter out unwanted wastes and toxic products. A nephron is made up of two parts, a ball of capillaries (called glomerulus) attached to a tubule. Your blood passes through the capillaries and is then filtered. The filtrate (fluid) then goes into the tubule. Substances and water are either subtracted or added from the filtrate depending on the needs of your body. Ultimately, what comes out is urine. Piece of cake, right?

Almost there, each kidney connects to a ureter (yes, a left and a right ureter). Both ureters then empty into the urinary bladder. That's the thing you feel when you say you're about to say, “I need to empty my bladder”. To make urine come out, you need the urethra and finally, the urethral opening. In addition to your kidneys, we had just traced the pathway of your urine (called the urinary tract).

Why You Should Take Good Care of Your Kidneys (Which Means They're Critical)

Your kidneys are important because they maintain the balance of substances and fluids. To ensure this happens, a scientifically orchestrated balance of excretion and reabsorption occurs. Anything which interferes with that can tip the scales and offset the balance. Prompt removal of waste products and excess fluid is a must.

Your kidneys also take part in your body's ability to regulate potassium, sodium chloride and acidic substances. In addition, they produce two essential hormones (erythropoietin and calcitriol or vitamin D3) and one enzyme (renin). Erythropoietin activates your bone marrow to produce more red blood cells. This happens when you go to high altitude areas or when you bleed a lot. Vitamin D3 or calcitriol is the active form of vitamin D. It increases absorption of calcium from the intestine. Your kidneys are also partially responsible for the maintenance of blood pressure. If your blood pressure drops below the normal range, it secretes renin. Renin initiates a cascade of reactions ultimately leading to an increase in your blood pressure.

In summary, your kidneys regulate the production of red blood cells, control blood pressure, synthesize the active compound of vitamin D for strong bones, excrete drugs and wastes products, and maintain the balance of fluids. Yes, your kidneys are that important!

Part 2 of this newsletter will deal with warning signs that you might have a kidney disease and some common types of kidney diseases. Part 3 will deal with alternative treatments or remedies which you can do to support the health of your kidneys.