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expanded article a bit, debating with myself about adding a section on renal diseases...
'''Kidneys''' are bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist. They are located near the middle of the back, just below the rib cage. The kidneys are sophisticated reprocessing machines. Every day, the kidneys process about 200 quarts of [[blood]] to sift out about 2 quarts of waste products and extra water. The waste and extra water become [[urine]], which flows to the [[bladder]] through tubes called [[ureter]]s.<ref>[http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/yourkidneys/ "Your Kidneys and How They Work"]</ref>
'''Kidneys''' are bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist. They are located near the middle of the back, just below the rib cage. The kidneys are sophisticated reprocessing machines. Every day, the kidneys process about 200 quarts of [[blood]] to sift out about 2 quarts of waste products and extra water. The waste and extra water become [[urine]], which flows to the [[bladder]] through tubes called [[ureter]]s.<ref>[http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/yourkidneys/ "Your Kidneys and How They Work"]</ref>
==Structure and Function==
The primary functions of the kidneys are ''osmoregulation'' and filtration. That is, the kidneys filter small molecules and ions from the blood and support organismal [[homeostasis]] by balancing the concentration of water and salts in the bloodstream. The kidneys also secrete hormones which regulate things like thirst and blood pressure.
Each kidney is composed of ~1,000,000 functional filter structures called [[nephron|nephrons]]. Each nephron contains a filter head ([[glomerulus]]) with re-absorptive tubules draining into a collecting duct.
Blood passing through the capillaries in the glomerulus passes over a sieve formed by specialized cells called ''podocytes''. The filtrate which passes through the sieve then travels through the tubules where water and salts still needed by the body are reabsorbed into the bloodstream, concentrating the urine. The urine then passes into the collecting duct system where it is further concentrated. Finally, the urine passes through a papillary duct into the renal calyces, then into the pyelum and out through the ureter.
The re-absorptive machinery in the kidneys is so efficient that only 1 liter of urine is produced for every ~100 liters of primary filtrate produced in the glomerulus.
==References==
==References==