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Related Concept Videos

Kidney Structure01:45

Kidney Structure

57.6K
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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Introduction to Urinary System01:13

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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...
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Internal Anatomy of the Kidney01:12

Internal Anatomy of the Kidney

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

Anatomy of the Genitourinary System I: Kidneys and Ureters

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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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Physiology of the Genitourinary System I: Renal Blood Flow and Glomerular Filtration01:29

Physiology of the Genitourinary System I: Renal Blood Flow and Glomerular Filtration

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The kidneys are vital organs responsible for regulating blood filtration, waste excretion, and fluid balance, all of which are crucial for maintaining homeostasis. Renal physiology examines renal blood flow, glomerular filtration, and urine formation, ensuring the body’s internal environment remains stable.Renal Blood FlowThe kidneys receive about 20-25% of the cardiac output, typically around 1200 mL of blood per minute in an average adult. Blood flows into the kidneys through the renal...
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Kidney Transplant I: Introduction01:28

Kidney Transplant I: Introduction

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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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Updated: May 4, 2026

Cytosolic Calcium Measurements in Renal Epithelial Cells by Flow Cytometry
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Thomas Willis (1621 - 1675): First steps into kidney function.

Livia Ann Frost, Garabed Eknoyan

    Clinical Nephrology
    |October 21, 2025
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Thomas Willis revolutionized kidney function understanding in the 17th century, shifting from a passive filter to an active regulatory organ. His work laid the groundwork for modern nephrology and homeostasis.

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    Area of Science:

    • History of Medicine
    • Nephrology
    • Physiology

    Background:

    • Thomas Willis (1621-1675) made significant contributions to understanding kidney function.
    • Previous understanding viewed the kidney as a passive filter.
    • Seventeenth-century medical thought was heavily influenced by Galenic humoral traditions.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To analyze Thomas Willis's underrecognized contribution to the foundations of kidney function.
    • To document the paradigm shift in understanding the kidney from a passive filter to an active regulatory organ.
    • To highlight Willis's conceptual advances in renal physiology and their impact on subsequent scientific thought.

    Main Methods:

    • Comparative analysis of Thomas Willis's early work (De Urinis, 1659) and later work (Pharmaceutice Rationalis, 1674-1675).
    • Review of historical medical texts and physiological models of the 17th century.
    • Examination of Willis's reasoning based on mechanical principles and observations, predating microscopy and chemical analysis.

    Main Results:

    • Willis proposed the kidney as an active organ balancing urinary salts via tubular function, moving beyond the passive filter model.
    • He rejected Galenic physiology, favoring a mechanical model of 'straining or percolation' driven by blood circulation.
    • Willis identified diabetes as a blood disorder, noting the sweetness of diabetic urine, and recognized its systemic implications.

    Conclusions:

    • Willis's work established that kidney function depends on circulatory dynamics and that tubules modify urine composition.
    • He demonstrated that urinary changes reflect systemic physiology, not solely renal pathology.
    • His conceptual framework provided the first systematic model for homeostasis, influencing 19th-century developments in renal physiology.