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Related Concept Videos

Kidney Structure01:45

Kidney Structure

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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.
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Internal Anatomy of the Kidney01:12

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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...
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External Anatomy of the Kidney01:21

External Anatomy of the Kidney

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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...
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Anatomy of the Genitourinary System I: Kidneys and Ureters01:11

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The upper urinary system comprises two kidneys and two ureters, which are crucial in filtering blood and forming urine.KidneysLocation and Structure:The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs positioned behind the peritoneum on either side of the spine.Kidneys are between the 12th thoracic (T12) and the 3rd lumbar (L3) vertebrae.The position of the liver causes the right kidney to sit slightly lower than the left.Protective Layers:Each kidney is enveloped in a tough, fibrous membrane called the...
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Kidney Transplant I: Introduction01:28

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A kidney transplant is a surgical approach that involves replacing a non-functioning kidney with a healthy one from a donor. This procedure is often a treatment option for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. The method requires careful recipient selection, including evaluating various medical and psychosocial factors. These criteria vary between transplant centers but generally include assessments of the patient's overall health, adherence to medical recommendations, and lifestyle...
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Renal Drug Excretion: Overview01:15

Renal Drug Excretion: Overview

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As primary excretory organs, the kidneys maintain homeostasis by removing waste substances from the bloodstream. They comprise over a million units called nephrons, which serve as the kidney's functional units.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 29, 2026

Generation of Human Kidney Tubuloids from Tissue and Urine
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Generation of Human Kidney Tubuloids from Tissue and Urine

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Kidney development: an overview.

Ilkka Pietilä1, Seppo J Vainio

  • 1Oulu Center for Cell-Matrix Research, Biocenter and Infotech Oulu, Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Intelligent Systems, Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.

Nephron. Experimental Nephrology
|May 24, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Understanding mammalian kidney development is crucial for advancing diagnostics and therapies for kidney diseases. This review details kidney ontogeny, from initial cell identification to nephron formation and morphogenesis control.

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Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Genetics
  • Nephrology

Background:

  • Kidney diseases represent a significant global health burden with rising incidence.
  • Understanding the genetic and cellular mechanisms of kidney development is key to improving diagnostics and therapies.
  • Mammalian kidney development involves intricate, sequential cell and tissue interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive overview of kidney ontogeny.
  • To explore the inductive signals and key factors controlling kidney morphogenesis.
  • To highlight the current understanding and remaining gaps in nephron development.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on kidney development.
  • Analysis of functional genetic studies.
  • Synthesis of data on cell-cell interactions and signaling pathways.

Main Results:

  • Detailed description of kidney ontogeny from primary cell identification to nephron formation.
  • Identification of key genetic factors and inductive signals governing morphogenesis.
  • Elucidation of the sequential and reciprocal interactions driving kidney development.

Conclusions:

  • Significant progress has been made in understanding nephron development.
  • Many detailed mechanisms of progenitor cell control and inductive signaling require further investigation.
  • Continued research holds promise for novel therapeutic strategies for kidney diseases.