Knowing Our Kidney Organ

Obviously, our kidneys are basically part of a system called the urinary system. This urinary system, in fact, consists of two kidneys, two pieces of pipe which connects the kidneys with the bladder, and the fruits of the pipe which connects the bladder outside of surface. The pipe which connects the kidney to the bladder is called with the ureter, while the pipeline that connects the bladder to the outside of surface is called the urethra.

Talking about their characteristics, our kidneys basically shaped like a pea which has the size of a human hand. These kidneys, in fact, are located behind the waist both at the left and right where the area is a meeting place between the spines along with curved ribs down. In the body, our kidneys are located behind the abdominal cavity, so that their layout is often called the retroperitoneal which is behind the abdominal membrane (peritoneum).

Noticing from our human eyes, we sometimes are able to see the structure of our kidneys as an organ which consists of three layers. These layers such as the membrane wrapping, for example, are part of the edge of our kidneys (cortex) and the central portion of our kidneys (medulla). Additionally, these layers wrap the third cup of our kidneys which is called the renal or pelvisrenis part, whereby the area lies right on the line which is closer to our kidneys in the arch.

Meanwhile, when we look at from medical perspectives, our kidneys have about a million of microscopic units which carry out various functions. These microscopic units so-called nefron, in fact, consist of several parts called the glomerulus, tubules, and ducts (variation of collective ducts). By the way, these millions of glomerulus will likely be visible or can be seen in the cortex.

Next, while the medulla will seem to be a meandering channel like the tubules, the glomerulus serves as a sieve to remove the remaining substances such as ureum and creatinin. The tubules are basically a channel which keeps the continuation of the boiling down process between glomerulus and the renal cup. In fact, the functions of these tubules are to absorb water and releasing electrolytes.

Furthermore, the role of the renal tubules is what makes it not only served as a filter to the remaining substances, but also as a regulator of moisture and electrolytes in the human body. Both the glomerulus and tubules are the single entity which then forms the nefron. Although this nefron is the smallest unit appeared in the kidney system, however, it is the most important part of the organ in putting together both our kidneys to be functioned accordingly.

On the other hand, the kidney cup looks like a cup-shaped room which contains thousands of the floating tubules. The cup which consists of kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra are simply just another channel to distribute the urine which is formed inside the kidney. All these processes occurred must be sterile naturally so that our healthy urine will not contain germs.

Moreover, let’s just say that if there is a dam in the urinary tract because of the ureteral stone twisted or kinked, for example, then the kidney cup will be widened and filled with urine. Besides, this condition is sometimes referred to hydronephrosis. The condition of hydronephrosis, on top of that, is happened when the glomerulus serves to filter and maintain useful substances in our blood (e.g., proteins), as it removes the remaining toxic substances like ureum and creatinin.

There are approximately 1 to 1.5 liters of blood (one third of the heart bulk) getting filtered through the glomerulus within a minute. Therefore, it can be interpreted to say that both ureum and creatinin are the residual substances as the results of metabolism derived from protein. After all, this substance called ureum comes from toxic ammonia which has been altered by our liver.

Lastly, there are two kinds of capillaries in the glomerulus, i.e., afferent and efferent vas. Vas afferent is the capillary coming into the glomerulus, while the vas efferent is the capillary outside the glomerulus. The function of our kidney in filtering can be done because of these capillaries. The bowman capsule at the glomerulus, for instance, is not only capable of filtering out substances such as ureum, creatinin, and uric acid. However, the bowman capsule located at the glomerulus is also capable in removing toxic substances as the result of metabolism occurred by drugs and chemicals which are consumed by us.

So, imagine what would happen if all the glomerulus inside our kidney were being damaged and could not function anymore, because of all the toxic substances and the rest of them will be accumulated in the body to turn off our cells significantly. Well, I suppose it must be horrible isn’t it?!...

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