Our Kidneys

Our kidneys are a pair of vital, fist-sized, bean-shaped organs situated toward the back of the body on either side of the spine, near the middle of the back. Even one healthy, well-cared-for kidney is sufficient to meet the body's needs.

Functions of Our Kidneys

The kidneys do much more than produce urine. One of their vital functions is removing harmful waste products generated by metabolic processes, together with excess water, from the body through the urine.

Their other functions include:

• Maintaining the balance of certain minerals and water in the body.
• Producing hormones. For example, renin helps regulate blood pressure, while erythropoietin stimulates the bone marrow to produce blood cells.
• Activating a precursor of vitamin D, thereby helping regulate calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood and supporting bone health.
• Maintaining blood pH and the acid-base balance.

The inability of the kidneys to carry out these functions is called kidney failure.