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Cross section through human kidney Location of the kidneys
The normal kidney is located towards the back of the abdominal cavity, just above the waist. If you put your ds r The normal kidney is located towards the back of abdominal cavity, just above the waist. If you put your hands on your hips your kidneys are located just about where your thumbs are. One kidney is normally located just below the liver, on the right side of the abdomen and the other is just below the spleen on the left side.
The kidneys are quite complicated organs and consist of a number of different components which have different functions. The basic structure of the kidney is called a nephron and there are a million of them in each kidney. They are microscopic tube-like structures which are responsible for filtering the blood and removing waste (toxic) substances such as drugs and food additives. These waste materials are excreted in the form of urine. Some of the filtered materials are re-absorbed back into the body as they can be used again such as water, salt and amino acids.
Stages of kidney disease
In the last few years a useful classification of renal failure has been developed. It needs you to know your GFR - glomerular filtration rate. This can be measured, or predicted from your age, weight, blood tests etc.
( GFR Description Treatment stage
1 90+ Normal kidney function but urine or other abnormalities point to kidney disease Observation, control of blood pressure
2 60-89 Mildly reduced kidney function, urine or other abnormalities point to kidney disease Blood pressure control, monitoring, find out why.
3 30-59 Moderately reduced kidney function More of the above, and probably diagnosis, if not already made.
4 15-29 Severely reduced kidney function Planning for endstage renal failure.
5 14 or less Very severe, or endstage kidney failure (sometimes call established renal failure) Haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, renal transplantation. )
1 90+ Normal kidney function but urine or other abnormalities point to kidney disease Observation, control of blood pressure
2 60-
Location of the kidneys
www.churchatkirkburn.org,uk page 128 Renal Failure september 2009 2 of 5 29/11/10 1/1/2010