It is no secret that many people can understand the structure of distant galaxies very well or find the cause of a malfunction in a car engine in five minutes, and even don’t even know where this or that organ is located in their body. In particular, few can clearly explain what the importance of the kidneys is, what functions they perform, and what needs to be done to avoid health problems due to a malfunction in their work. We will try to answer all these questions in this article.
Description
The kidneys are a paired organ. They are located just below the lower back, but not symmetrically. The right kidney is shifted down, as there is a liver above it. However, both kidneys are approximately equal in size. Each is approximately 12 cm long, 3-4 cm thick, and 5 cm wide. The weight of the kidneys is 125–200 g. This means that each of them weighs less than 1% of a person’s body weight. The left may be slightly larger than the right.
Structure
The kidneys are made up of nephrons. In a healthy person, almost 2 million nephrons in which urine is formed can be present in the body. Inside each of them is a kidney body with tangles of capillaries. They are surrounded by a two-layer capsule, laid out from the inside by the epithelium. Outside, this whole “structure” is protected by a membrane and surrounded by tubules.
Nephrons are of 3 types. They are distinguished by the structure and location of the tubules:
- superficial;
- intracortical;
- juxtamedullary.
How the kidneys work
This body is constantly in action. Those who are interested in the structure and function of the kidneys should be aware that blood circulation in them does not stop all the time. Blood is supplied by an artery, dividing into many arterioles. They bring it to every ball. As a result, urine is formed in the kidneys.
This happens as follows:
- at the first stage, the plasma and liquid contained in the blood are filtered in glomeruli;
- the resulting primary urine is collected in special tanks where the body absorbs all useful substances from it;
- due to tubular secretion, excess substances are transferred to the urine.
Within 24 hours, the body repeatedly pumps all the blood present in the body. And this process does not stop. Every minute, the body processes 1 liter of blood.
What is the function of the kidneys?
This organ plays the role of a kind of filter. The main function performed by the kidneys is urination. She is extremely important. That is why nature has provided for a person 2 kidneys, and in rare cases, there may even be 3. If one of the kidneys fails, the human body can function normally even with one kidney.
The main functions of the kidneys also include:
- excretory;
- ion regulatory;
- metabolic
- endocrine;
- blood creation function;
- osmoregulatory;
- concentration.
How does filtering work
The kidneys are not limited to pumping blood. In parallel with this process, they remove microbes, toxins, toxins and other harmful substances from it, which pose a danger to the normal functioning of organs and systems of the human body.
Then the decay products are in the blood plasma, which carries them to the ureters, and from where - to the bladder. During urination, all harmful substances are removed from the human body. So that the released toxins could not get back again, the ureters are equipped with a special valve that opens only in one direction.
Homeostatic and metabolic functions
This body effectively regulates the volume of intercellular fluid and blood. This is achieved by ensuring the balance of the ions contained in the cells. No less important is the metabolic function of the kidneys. It manifests itself in the form of an exchange of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids. This organ also takes a direct part in the process of gluconeogenesis, which is triggered by starvation.
In addition, it is in the kidneys that the “usual” vitamin D is transformed into its more effective form, D3, and enters the body through the so-called cutaneous cholesterol produced under the influence of the sun.
This body is also responsible for the active synthesis of proteins necessary as a building material for the formation of new cells.
Endocrine and protective functions
The kidneys help the body fight alcohol, drugs, nicotine and the harmful effects of medications. In addition, they synthesize hormones, enzymes, and essential substances such as:
- calcitriol, which regulates calcium levels;
- erythropoietin, which causes the synthesis of blood in the bone marrow.
- renin, which regulates the amount of blood;
- prostaglandins, lipid substances that control blood pressure.
How is the regulation of kidney function in the body
The volume and composition of urine, which is excreted by the body per day, is greatly influenced by hormones:
- adrenaline secreted by the adrenal gland reduces urination;
- estradiol regulates the level of phosphorus and calcium salts in the blood;
- aldosterone, synthesized by the adrenal cortex, with excessive secretion becomes a cause of sodium and fluid retention in the body, and when it is deficient, a lot of urine is released, which leads to a decrease in blood volume;
- parathyroid hormone - stabilizes the elimination of salts from the body;
- vasopressin - regulates the level of fluid absorption in the kidneys;
The amount of fluid consumed during the day affects the activity of the central osmoreceptors of the hypothalamus. With excess water, it decreases, which leads to an increase in the volume of urine excreted by the kidneys. If the body is dehydrated, then activity increases, and the amount of fluid leaving the body decreases. A very dangerous situation can occur with damage to the hypothalamus, when the volume of urine can reach 4-5 liters per day.
The functioning of the kidneys is regulated not only by hormones. The vagus nerve and sympathetic fibers have a great influence on their activities.
What symptoms do you need to see a doctor with
Kidney problems are a very serious threat to health, so if they occur, you should not postpone a visit to the doctor.
And the fact that there may be a violation of the kidneys may indicate the presence of several symptoms at once from the following list:
- fatigue;
- low immunity (consecutive infectious and catarrhal diseases);
- high temperature, which stays between 37–37.5 degrees Celsius and rises slightly in the evening;
- rapid and painful urination;
- discoloration of urine;
- polyuria (withdrawal of too much urine, which becomes excessively light);
- the presence of blood clots in the urine;
- the appearance of edema around the eyes, on the feet, legs, fingers;
- the occurrence of frequent aching pain in the lower back, aggravated by being in an upright position.
Why can not neglect medical care
Many people postpone a visit to the doctor, hoping that everything will "resolve" by itself. Such hopes are in vain, as it can only aggravate your problems and lead to a complete impairment of kidney function in the body. At first, the disease can become chronic, and after that it can lead to kidney failure. In this case, the cardiovascular, neurological, musculoskeletal, endocrinological systems and the gastrointestinal tract will be affected. Serious treatment will be required, and in advanced cases, hemodialysis. With this procedure, the patient’s blood is scrolled many times through the filter of the artificial kidney apparatus. Each hemodialysis session lasts several hours. A week, the patient needs 2-3 such procedures, so the patient is deprived of freedom of movement, since he must visit the medical institution where he is undergoing treatment every 2-3 days. And so on until the end of life, at least until medicine comes up with an alternative to hemodialysis.
Who should be involved in prevention
Especially attentive to their health should be those who have immediate family members who have or have impaired renal function. Frequent recurrence of sore throats and / or unstable blood pressure should be a concern. Better to start by visiting a qualified therapist. Most likely, he will offer to take urine and blood tests, and also prescribe an ultrasound scan. If the results turn out to be “suspicious,” you will need to consult a nephrologist and / or a urologist. In general, it is believed that people over 40 years old should do an ultrasound of the kidneys annually.
What is useful
To know the structure and function of the kidneys is not enough. It will also be useful to get acquainted with the recommendations of specialists who will help avoid problems in the activities of this body.
So that kidney function is not impaired, you need to use at least 2 liters of water daily. It is this amount that is optimal for the normal functioning of the human body. In addition, with this drinking regimen, the blood will be sufficiently diluted, which will facilitate its filtering by the kidneys.
Useful for this organ will be the use of cranberry or lingonberry juice, which helps to remove excess fluid from the body and reduces the concentration of urine, which prevents the formation of stones.
For the health of the kidneys, it is very beneficial to consume watermelons, pumpkins, zucchini and melons, which have an excellent diuretic effect and contain many vitamins and minerals.
An active lifestyle and sports are welcome, which prevent the occurrence of stagnation of blood in the pelvis. However, the loads should be moderate, and while in the fresh air, you should dress according to the weather so as not to chill the internal organs. For the same reason, girls and boys are not recommended to wear "transparent" underwear during severe frosts.
The kidneys will be grateful if you sleep on your stomach more often. If you do not get enough sleep in this position, then try to lie down like this for about 20 minutes from 17 to 19 hours, since it is at this time that the kidneys work most actively.
What to avoid
To minimize the risk of kidney disease, doctors advise restricting your use or giving up coffee, soda, and alcohol altogether. They destroy cells and are a factor provoking dehydration of the body.
Not in the best way, the consumption of mineral water in large quantities can affect the health of the kidneys, if this is not provided for in the treatment plan for another disease. The consequence of such a disease can be the formation of stones, which subsequently will be extremely difficult to get rid of.
We have already found out which kidney function in the body is the most important. If a person consumes salted foods for a long time, then sodium accumulates in the blood, and the amount of such an important element as potassium, on the contrary, decreases. Both that, and another negatively affects a condition of an organism, first of all, on a cardiovascular system and on a person’s appearance.
It should be remembered that a safe amount of salt for a person per day is no more than 5 g. However, many consume almost 2 times more.
A flavoring agent such as glutamate negatively affects the condition of the kidneys. It is part of canned vegetables and smoked products.
Products that irritate the urinary tract include vinegar. In addition, it can cause the formation of toxins.
During the long winter months, many are drawn to vegetables and fruits, even greenhouse ones. Doctors recommend abandoning their use or include them in their diet is extremely rare. The fact is that they contain chemicals and pesticides, which extremely negatively affect the condition of the kidneys.
Now you know what functions the kidneys perform in the body. We hope that the information presented in this article has helped you better know your body, and you will draw from it information that will help avoid problems in the future.