You have two kidneys which can be bean-shaped organs about the size of your fist. They are located at each side of one’s spine near the middle of your back.
Many people think the kidneys are merely responsible for producing urine, but they’ve many important functions within your body:
They remove waste products from the human bodyThey balance the body’s fluids and electrolytesThey release hormones that control blood pressure and calcium metabolism.They stimulate and control the production of red blood cellsThey produce an energetic form of Vitamin D that promotes healthy bonesThey provide critical regulation of the body’s salt and acid content.When functioning normally, the kidneys accumulate urine and dispose of it through the urinary tract. Excess water and toxins from metabolic processes, combined with the urine, are taken off the human body as if via a filter. Additionally, the acid-base balance is regulated by the kidneys to prevent excess acidity in the blood.
The kidneys have an important role in regulating blood pressure by producing hormones. Hormones from the kidneys such as for example erythropoietin control the production of blood cells in the bone marrow.
Kidneys also influence the amount of calcium in the blood and the production of vitamin D needed in mineralization that gives the stability of bones.