renal anatomy

The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located on each side of your spine, just below your ribcage. They filter blood to remove waste products and excess fluid, turning them into urine. Inside, each kidney contains tiny filtering units called nephrons that perform this task. Blood enters the kidneys through large vessels, gets filtered, and cleaned blood exits while waste and urine are collected in the kidney's central area, called the renal pelvis. From there, urine travels down tubes called ureters to be stored in the bladder until you urinate. The kidneys also help regulate blood pressure and maintain overall fluid and electrolyte balance.