Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Kidney Structure

Kidney Structure

The kidneys are two large bean-shaped organs located in the upper abdomen. They filter the blood several times a day to remove toxins and rebalance water and electrolytes of the circulatory system via the renal veins. The kidneys receive blood directly from the heart via the renal arteries. These arteries enter the kidney at the hilum, the concave surface of the bean, where they branch and divide into smaller vessels and capillaries.

Internal Anatomy of the Kidney

Internal Anatomy of the Kidney

The kidneys are essential organs in the human body, performing a myriad of tasks that maintain homeostasis and overall health.
Anatomical Position and Dimensions
The kidneys are retroperitoneal organs positioned against the posterior abdominal wall on either side of the spine, roughly between the twelfth thoracic and third lumbar vertebrae. Each kidney is typically 10-12 cm long, 5-6 cm wide, and 3-4 cm thick, weighing about 150 grams.
Renal Cortex
The outermost region of the kidney is the...

Renal Corpuscle

Renal Corpuscle

The glomerulus and Bowman's capsule are two essential components of the nephron, which is the functional unit of the kidney. These microscopic structures play a critical role in the process of blood filtration to produce urine.
Glomerulus: Structure and Function
The glomerulus is a tiny, intricate network of capillaries located at the beginning of the nephron. It's enveloped by the Bowman's capsule and receives its blood supply from an afferent arteriole, which divides into numerous capillaries...

Drug Elimination by Renal Route: Glomerular Filtration

Drug Elimination by Renal Route: Glomerular Filtration

The kidney serves as the primary organ responsible for eliminating drugs and their metabolites from the body. This process, known as renal elimination, starts with glomerular filtration and results in urine formation. Each kidney houses millions of functional units called nephrons, where urine production takes place. A nephron has two main components: a renal corpuscle and a renal tubule. Drugs gain access to the kidney via the renal artery, which progressively branches off into afferent...

External Anatomy of the Kidney

External Anatomy of the Kidney

The kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs in the human body that play a critical role in maintaining overall health. They filter out waste products from the blood, regulate blood pressure, maintain electrolyte balance, and stimulate the production of red blood cells.
The kidneys are located in the retroperitoneal space on either side of the vertebral column, protected posteriorly by the 11th and 12th ribs. The right kidney sits slightly lower than the left owing to the presence of the liver...

Introduction to Urinary System

Introduction to Urinary System

The urinary system consists of two kidneys, two ureters, the urinary bladder, and the urethra.
The kidneys are bean-shaped organs located in the retroperitoneal space, on either side of the vertebral column, between the T12 and L3 vertebrae. They are partially protected by the rib cage and surrounded by perirenal fat, which provides cushioning. They are responsible for urine formation and play critical roles in regulating blood pressure, electrolyte levels, and hormone production. The ureters...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

The Rise and Fall of Acute Tubular Necrosis - An exercise in medical semiotics.

Giornale italiano di nefrologia : organo ufficiale della Societa italiana di nefrologia·2018

Same author

John Dique: dialysis pioneer and political advocate.

Giornale italiano di nefrologia : organo ufficiale della Societa italiana di nefrologia·2016

Same author

Renal replacement therapy associated with lithium nephrotoxicity in Australia.

The Medical journal of Australia·2014

Same author

Renal replacement therapy associated with lithium nephrotoxicity in Australia.

The Medical journal of Australia·2014

Same author

Home haemodialysis in Australia - is the wheel turning full circle?

The Medical journal of Australia·2010

Same author

Blackwater fever: the rise and fall of an exotic disease.

Journal of nephrology·2009

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 1, 2026

An Anaerobic Biosensor Assay for the Detection of Mercury and Cadmium

An Anaerobic Biosensor Assay for the Detection of Mercury and Cadmium

Published on: December 17, 2018

Mercury and the kidney.

Charles R P George¹

¹Concord Hospital, Concord, New South Wales, Australia. crpaxg@yahoo.com.au

Journal of Nephrology

|May 27, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Mercury, historically used for various ailments, significantly impacted kidney health, leading to its phased removal from therapeutics due to renal complications. This highlights mercury

More Related Videos

A Study of the Complexation of Mercury(II) with Dicysteinyl Tetrapeptides by Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

A Study of the Complexation of Mercury(II) with Dicysteinyl Tetrapeptides by Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Published on: January 8, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 1, 2026

An Anaerobic Biosensor Assay for the Detection of Mercury and Cadmium

An Anaerobic Biosensor Assay for the Detection of Mercury and Cadmium

Published on: December 17, 2018

A Study of the Complexation of Mercury(II) with Dicysteinyl Tetrapeptides by Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

A Study of the Complexation of Mercury(II) with Dicysteinyl Tetrapeptides by Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Published on: January 8, 2016

Area of Science:

Nephrology
History of Medicine
Toxicology

Background:

Longstanding human use of mercury spans centuries, with diverse applications.
Historical Arabic medicine utilized mercury for treating skin infections, urinary issues, and stones.
Mercury was a primary treatment for syphilis in Europe from the 16th century until the mid-20th century.

Observation:

Mercurial diuretics emerged from clinical observations in syphilis patients.
These diuretics were widely used in the early 20th century.
Safer, more effective non-mercurial diuretics eventually superseded them.

Findings:

Mercury's therapeutic use carried significant risks, including acute kidney injury.
Chronic renal impairment and nephrotic syndrome were recognized complications.
Progressive understanding of mercury's nephrotoxicity led to its discontinuation in medicine.

Implications:

The historical use and subsequent withdrawal of mercury underscore the importance of drug safety and efficacy.
Understanding mercury's renal effects advanced nephrology.
Mercury's role in medical instrumentation (thermometers, etc.) is a notable, albeit indirect, contribution to medical practice.