The kidneys are important organs, problems with the functioning of which negatively affect the state of the body. With diseases of the urinary system, health worsens, toxins, harmful salts accumulate, causeless weakness appears, and immunity decreases.

What are the functions of the kidneys in the body? How to protect important organs from negative effects? How much liquid do you need to drink per day for active cleansing of decay products? What signs indicate the development of renal pathologies? Answers in the article.

Kidney structure

Basic information:

• paired organs, bean-shaped;
• in case of kidney failure, forced blood purification with the help of a hemodialysis machine is required, otherwise all toxins will remain in the body, after a while the patient will die;
• the organs are located in the lumbar region, the left is slightly higher: the liver is located above the right;
• dimensions - 10-12 cm, the right organ is slightly smaller;
• on the outside there is a protective shell, inside there is a system for the accumulation and removal of liquid;
• the thickness of the parenchyma, limited by the shell and the connecting base - 15-25 mm;
• the main structural unit is the nephron, the amount in a healthy body is 1-1.3 million. Urine is formed inside the nephron. There are three types of nephrons, depending on functionality and structure;
• renal tissue has a homogeneous structure, foreign inclusions (sand, stones, tumors) are normally absent;
• the renal artery delivers blood to the kidney; inside the organ, the vessel branches into arterioles, which fill each glomerulus with blood. Constant pressure maintains the optimal ratio of arterioles: the bearing is twice as narrow as the bearing;
• fluctuations in blood pressure in the range from 100 to 150 mm Hg. Art. does not affect blood flow in the renal tissue. At severe stress, pathological processes, blood loss, a decrease in blood flow is observed;
• the large renal cups form the renal pelvis, which is connected by the ureters to the bladder.

Urine formation

The process consists of three stages. Violation of the filtration function, damage to the glomeruli and tubules interferes with the process, provokes fluid stagnation, and leads to the accumulation of toxins.

Main steps:

• filtration through three layers of a glomerular filter;
• accumulation of primary urine in collecting barrels and tubules;
• tubular secretion - the transportation of unnecessary substances from the blood to the urine.

The volume and quality of urine released throughout the day is regulated by hormones:

• adrenaline - reduces the formation of urine;
• aldosterone is secreted by the adrenal cortex. Excess hormone causes heart failure, edema, excess - dehydration, decreased blood volume;
• estradiol regulates calcium-phosphorus metabolism;
• vasopressin is responsible for the absorption of water by the kidneys. The hormone is produced by the hypothalamus. With the defeat of this department, the volume of urine rises sharply - up to five liters;
• parathyroid hormone is responsible for removing various salts from the body.

On a note! The work of the kidneys is regulated not only by substances produced by the adrenal glands, thyroid gland, hypothalamus, but also by sympathetic fibers, the vagus nerve.

Functions of paired organs

The main function of the kidneys is that the organs pump all the blood through tiny filters, cleanse the liquid from microbes, toxins, toxins, poisons, and other harmful components. The filtration capacity of the kidneys is amazing - up to two hundred liters of urine per day! Thanks to the kidneys, the body constantly receives "clean" blood. Waste products, decay products are excreted in the urine through the urethra (urethra) in a natural way.

What are the functions of the kidneys:

• excretory kidney function. Excretion of urea, decay products, poisons, creatinine, ammonia, amino acids, glucose, salts from the body. Violation of the excretory function leads to intoxication, deterioration of health;
• protective. Important organs filter, neutralize hazardous substances that have entered the body: nicotine, alcohol, components of medicines;
• metabolic. Participate in carbohydrate, lipid, protein metabolism;
• homeostatic. They regulate the ionic composition of the intercellular substance and blood, maintain a constant volume of fluid in the body;
• endocrine kidney function. Nephrons are involved in the synthesis of important hormones and substances: prostaglandins (regulate blood pressure), calcitrol (regulates calcium metabolism), erythropoietin (stimulates hematopoiesis), renin (maintains optimal blood circulation).

It is difficult to overestimate the importance of the kidneys. Most people do not think how important the work of the bean organs is until diseases of an inflammatory and non-inflammatory nature develop. Damage to the kidney tissue, problems with the production and excretion of urine adversely affect various parts of the body.

Symptoms of the development of renal pathologies

The early stages are often almost asymptomatic. People often do not pay attention to the slight discomfort in the lumbar region, they believe that the back hurts from overexertion. Only with severe pain syndrome, accidental detection of diseases of the urinary tract with poor urine tests, do patients visit a urologist.

Unfortunately, according to the results, analysis of urine and blood, radiography, the doctor often reveals a chronic form of pathology. In advanced cases, nephrosis will require a long and often costly treatment.

Go to the address and read about how to prepare for retrograde urography and how the procedure works.

It is important to know the main signs of kidney problems:

• in the morning, under the eyes and on the lower legs, edema is noticeable, which after a couple of hours disappear as imperceptibly as it appears;
• blood pressure often rises. Violation of indicators is a sign of not only hypertension, but also nephritis, atherosclerosis, diabetes;
• problems with urination: more or less urine is secreted than usual, although the drinking regimen is about the same;
• discomfort in the lumbar region. If, then the discomfort is heard from one side or the other, sometimes, on both sides of the spine, but not in the central part (along the vertical axis);
• the shade or transparency of urine changes;
• periodically audible "lumbago" in the lumbar region, more often, on one side. This sign indicates an active inflammatory process or the movement of stones along the ureters;
• causeless weakness, lethargy, drowsiness, combined with slight discomfort in the lumbar region and high blood pressure should prompt the idea of ​​visiting a urologist. With renal pathologies, toxins accumulate in the body, hence the deterioration of the general condition.

Important! When one or more symptoms appear, it is important to immediately visit a nephrologist or urologist, take a urine, blood test, and do an ultrasound of the kidneys. Often, negative symptoms are practically absent, but the acidity of urine is higher or lower than normal, erythrocytes, protein appear in urine, the level of leukocytes rises, and other indicators worsen.

What is bad for the kidneys

Pathologies of important organs develop under the influence of negative factors:

• hypothermia, wet feet;
• alcohol abuse;
• heat: the kidneys work with increased stress, actively process the increased volume of fluid consumed;
• drafts, cold wind;
• lack of physical activity, provoking stagnation of blood and urine;
• overflowing bladder: the optimal number of urination is 5-6 times per day. With stagnant urine, harmful microorganisms actively multiply;
• drastic weight loss often provokes a prolapse of the kidney due to a decrease in the volume of the protective fat layer surrounding the bean-shaped organ;
• frequent use of antibiotics, other potent drugs;
• the use of too sweet or salty food, smoked meats, spicy, fried foods negatively affects the condition of the nephrons, tubules, filtering glomeruli;
• carbonated drinks with artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners do not benefit the kidneys;
• Mineral water with gas, high salt content puts stress on the kidneys. It is important to release the gas, slightly warm up the healing liquid, only after these manipulations consume the liquid. Medicinal mineral waters are allowed to be drunk only in courses, taking into account the nature of the diseases and the composition of the salts;
• serious physical exertion, overwork, lifting weights, overloading during sports competitions;
• inflammatory processes in various parts of the body. Pathogenic microorganisms with blood enter the renal tubules, possibly infecting important organs.

How to reduce your risk of disease

• hypothermia prevention;
• drinking clean, "soft" water;
• refusal from the frequent use of sour juices, citrus fruits, tomatoes;
• it is useful to drink more often weak green tea, rosehip broth, infusion of corn stigmas, bearberry, parsley;
• well washed melon buds, watermelons. An important point - melons must contain minimal amount nitrates;
• table mineral water is good for the body, but in reasonable amounts. The frequency of use, the daily rate is suggested by the urologist for a particular patient;
• you should not drink strong alcohol, beer, wine. Carbonated low-alcohol drinks with dozens of chemical compounds are especially harmful;
• you should not eat stale foods, overload the body with "heavy" food, abuse spices, hot spices;
• it is important to limit the intake of salt, which provokes the accumulation of fluid in the body, edema, increased stress on the urinary tract;
• correct drinking regime - up to two liters of water per day. This should become the norm for every day, otherwise, over time, toxins will accumulate if the kidneys are not flushed properly;
• do not get carried away with offal, veal, mackerel, cod, beef, sorrel, spinach. Strong coffee, chocolate, beer, legumes - names containing purines and oxalates. Frequent consumption of these types of food provokes active salt deposition, leads to urolithiasis and gout - joint disease.

Proper kidney function is vital to the body. In patients suffering from severe renal failure, the quality of life is significantly reduced, and immunity is weakened. Knowledge about the structure and functioning of important organs helps to understand why it is necessary to take care of the kidneys, how to prevent pathologies of an infectious and non-infectious nature.

Video is an anatomy lesson that explains the functions of the urinary system, the structure of the kidneys and the formation of urine:

The kidneys are vital organs of the human body. Thanks to them, the process of filtering blood and removing metabolic products from the body takes place. To understand how great their role is, you need to study their structure and functionality.

The location of the kidneys in the body

Each of the pair of organs has bean shape... In an adult organism, they are located in the lumbar region, surrounding the spinal column. In children, it is slightly below the usual level. But, in the process of growth, the location of the kidneys returns to the desired level. To visually find out their location, you just need to put your palms to your sides, and point your thumbs up. The desired organs are located on the conditional line between the two fingertips.

Their feature is their location in relation to each other. The right kidney is below the level of the left. The reason for this is that it is located under the liver, which does not allow the organ to rise higher. Sizes fluctuate 10 to 13 cm in length and up to 6.8 cm wide.

Kidney structure

Structural formation is represented by the nephron. A person has them more than 800 thousand... Most of it is located in the cortex. Without nephrons, it would be impossible to imagine the process of formation of both primary and secondary urine, which is ultimately excreted from the body. One functional unit is represented by a whole complex, which includes:

• Shumlyansky-Bowman capsule.
• Renal glomeruli.
• Tubular system.

Outside, the kidneys are surrounded by layers of adipose and connective tissue, the so-called "Kidney bag". It not only protects against damage, but also guarantees immobility. The organs are covered with a parenchyma consisting of two membranes. The outer shell is represented by a dark brown crust, which is divided into small lobes, where are:

1. Renal glomeruli... A complex of capillaries that form a kind of filter through which the blood plasma passes into the Bowman's capsule.
2. Renal glomerulus capsule... Has a funnel shape. Filtered fluid passes through it and enters the renal pelvis.
3. Tubular system... It is divided into proximal and distal sections. Fluid from the proximal canal enters the loop of Henle, and then into the distal part. It is in this complex that the reverse absorption of nutrients and vitamins into the bloodstream occurs.

The inner membrane is represented by a light brown medulla, which includes pyramids (up to 12 units).

The blood supply to the kidneys is due to the arterial system that runs from the abdominal aorta. The filtered blood fluid enters the vena cava through the renal vein. It is important to note that in the organs themselves there is great amount blood vessels feeding the cell. Regulation of work occurs due to nerve fibers located in the parenchyma.

The main role of the kidneys

The main role of the kidneys in the body is to purify the blood through filtration. This happens in the renal glomeruli. Then it enters the tubule complex, where it undergoes reabsorption. The secretion process begins in the pelvis and continues in the ureter. It is surprising that more than 220 liters of blood are pumped through the kidneys every day, up to 175 liters of primary urine is formed. And this is an indicator of how important their continuous work is.

Functions of organs

The kidneys have the following functions:

1. Metabolism... They are an important link in the synthesis of vital proteins, carbohydrates, and also form vitamin D3, which in its original form is produced in the subcutaneous layer when exposed to ultraviolet rays.
2. Urination... During the day, 170-175 liters of primary urine is formed in the human body, which, after thorough filtration and re-absorption, is excreted in the form of secondary urine with a volume of up to 1.9 liters. This is what helps to cleanse the blood from excess fluid, salts, toxic substances such as ammonia, urea. But if this process is disrupted, then poisoning with harmful metabolites can occur.
3. Maintaining the constancy of indicators of the internal environment... There is a regulation of the level of blood and fluid in the body. The renal system prevents the accumulation of excess water in the body, and also balances the concentration of mineral salts and substances.
4. Synthesis of hormones... Participate in the production of erythropoietin, renin, prostaglandin. Erythropoietin is the ancestor of blood cells originating in the red bone marrow. As a result of the action of renin, the level of circulating blood is regulated. And prostaglandin controls blood pressure.
5. Blood pressure monitoring... This happens not only due to the production of the hormone, but also due to the excretion of excess water.
6. Protection... Such destructive substances as alcohol, ammonia, toxic metabolites are excreted from the body.
7. Stabilization of indicatorspH in blood plasma... This process is characterized by the elimination of strong acids and pH adjustment. When deviating from the level equal to 7.44 units, infectious contamination can occur.

How important is the function of the kidneys in the body?

In the process of dysfunction of the kidneys, the body is exposed to poisoning, which causes uremia. This condition occurs when there is a large accumulation of toxic substances, accompanied by a violation of the water-salt balance. It is manifested by edema of the upper and lower extremities.

Health risks can be brought about by urolithiasis disease, formed at the moment of high concentration of insoluble salts. To avoid this, you need to monitor the health of organs and use such types of annual diagnostics as urine and blood tests. It is advisable to carry out ultrasound diagnostics every 1.5 years.

Prevention of kidney disease

First, you should exclude the use of potent drugs and hormone-based drugs, pay attention to regular physical activity. To improve the functional activity of organs, it is necessary to consume at least 1.8 liters of water per day.

Herbal drinks are also useful, helping to cleanse the body of harmful metabolites. To avoid dehydration, it is advisable to minimize the amount of alcohol, carbonated and coffee drinks consumed and limit the amount of salt in the diet.

In the human body, the kidneys perform very important functions. This is the main one that deals with the production of urine. This is a paired organ, but with one kidney, a person can lead a completely normal life. It even happened that a person from birth had one or even three kidneys. But the life of a person with one kidney can be quite difficult, since in this case there is a threat of acquiring infections.

Kidney structure

A healthy person should have two kidneys - the right and the left. In its shape, this organ resembles a bean. Its main function is urinary. But besides her, the kidneys perform a lot of other actions.

The kidneys are located in the lumbar region. But they are not on the same level, since the right kidney is located lower than the left. The thing is that on the other side is the liver, which does not let the kidney go up.

But in size, both kidneys are approximately equal, about 12 centimeters long and 3-4 centimeters thick. The width can be about 5 centimeters, and the weight can be from 125 to 200 grams. The right kidney may be slightly smaller than the left.

The structure of the kidney is the nephron. If a person is healthy, then in his kidney there can be more than a million nephrons. It is in these units that such a liquid is formed as. The structure of the nephron is as follows:

• Within each nephron is a renal corpuscle;
• Inside the renal corpuscles are tangles of capillaries;
• The capillaries are surrounded by a two-layer capsule;
• Inside the capsule is lined with epithelium;
• Outside, the capsule is covered by a membrane and tubules.

There are three types of nephrons. Their varieties depend on the location of the tubules and their structure. Nephrons are of the following types:

• Intracortical
• Surface
• Juxtamedullary.

In the kidney, blood circulation continues all the time. Blood is supplied to this organ by an artery, which in the organ itself is divided into arterioles. They bring blood to each ball.
Urine is formed during such actions of the organ:

• At the first stage, the liquid and blood plasma are filtered in the glomeruli.
• The urine that has formed (primary) is collected in special barrels, where the body absorbs all the nutrients from it.

Tubular secretion occurs, in which all excess substances move into the urine.

The main functions of the kidneys

Kidney function in the human body is not isolated. This body performs the following functions:

• Excretory
• Ion-regulating
• Endocrine
• Osmoregulating
• Metabolic
• Blood creation function
• Concentration.

For 24 hours, the kidneys pump all the blood in the body. This process is repeated an infinite number of times. For 60 seconds, the organ pumps about a liter of blood. But the kidneys are not limited to one pumping. During this time, they manage to select from the blood composition all those harmful to human body substances, including toxins, microbes and other toxins.

After that, the decay products enter the plasma. After that, they go into the ureters, from where they enter the bladder. Together with urine, all harmful substances leave the human body.

The ureters have a special valve that prevents toxins from entering the body a second time. This is due to the fact that the valve is designed in such a way that it only opens in one direction.

The kidneys perform a huge amount of work per day. They pump over 1000 liters of blood and, moreover, have time to completely purify it. And this is very important, because the blood reaches every cell of the human body and it is imperative that it be clean and does not contain harmful substances.

Excretory function

The essence of the excretion function is that the structure of the kidneys allows you to remove decay products and other harmful substances from the blood, the use of which in the body is no longer possible. The organ also removes such substances from the body:

• Toxins (mainly ammonia)
• Excess fluid
• Mineral salts
• Excessive amounts of glucose or amino acids.

If this function is given to changes, then various pathological abnormalities can occur in the body, which is very dangerous for the health and full life of a person.

Homeostatic and metabolic functions

The kidneys are very effective in regulating the volume of blood and intercellular fluid. This is where their homeostatic function is manifested. They are involved in the regulation of ion equilibrium. The kidneys affect the volume of fluid between cells by regulating its ionic state.

The metabolic function of the kidneys is manifested in the metabolism, namely, carbohydrates and lipids. There is also their direct participation in processes such as gluconeogenesis (if a person is starving) or the breakdown of peptides and amino acids.

It is only in the kidneys that vitamin D is converted to its effective form D3. At the initial stage, such a vitamin enters the body through cutaneous cholesterol, which is produced under the influence of sunlight.

It is in the kidneys that active protein synthesis takes place. And already this element is needed by the whole body for the construction of new cells.

Protective and endocrine functions

The kidneys are also the last line of defense in the body. Their protective function helps to remove from the body those substances that can harm it (alcohol, drugs, including nicotine, medicines).

The kidneys synthesize the following substances:

• Renin is an enzyme that regulates the amount of blood in the body.
• Calcitriol is a hormone that controls calcium levels.
• Erythropoietin is a hormone that induces blood synthesis in the bone marrow.
• Prostaglandins are a substance that controls blood pressure.

Impact on health

If there is a drop in the performance of the kidneys, then this may mean that some kind of pathology has arisen. This condition will become very dangerous for the body. In some cases, there may be a slowdown in the process of urination, which leads to the problematic elimination of toxic substances and decay products from the body.

Renal failure can lead to disturbances in water-salt or acid-base balance.
There can be many reasons for this. Here are just a few of them:

• Pathologies in the work of the urinary system.
• The appearance of inflammation.
• The existence of diseases that affect the immune system.
• Metabolic dysfunction.
• which are chronic.
• Vascular disease.
• The presence of a blockage in the urinary tract.

Damage to kidney tissue by various kinds of toxins (alcohol, narcotic substances, long-term medication).

The most severe cases are accompanied by possible blockages in the urinary tract, which prevents urine from leaving the body naturally. At the next stage, organ damage may occur.

What's happening

If about 80% of the kidney's nephrons are damaged, symptoms of kidney failure may occur. And they can be quite unpredictable and varied.

In the early stages, polyuria appears (high sensitivity to changes in food).

At the next stages of the disease, the exchange of calcium and phosphorus is disrupted, which practically paralyzes the effective work of the parathyroid glands, leading to the formation of diseases such as osteofibrosis and osteoporosis.

If too many nephrons are damaged, a protein deficiency occurs. And because of this, dystrophy occurs.
The metabolism of fats and carbohydrates is also affected.

Disruptions in fat metabolism occur, which leads to an excess of atherogenic fats in the body (and atherosclerosis, as a consequence).
Reduces the efficiency of the blood circulation process.

Dysfunction in the work of the heart and vascular system begins to manifest itself only when a large amount of toxic metabolic products accumulates in the blood.

Succumbs to defeat and nervous system, but its symptoms develop gradually. At first, a person is haunted by fatigue, rapid fatigue from work. Then, even stupor or coma may be observed, as a result of a decrease in cognitive function.

Very often, due to disorders in the work of the kidneys, arterial hypertension, or rather, its malignant form, manifests itself. You can also observe edema, which first appears on the face near the eyes, and then moves to the trunk.

If the protective and excretory functions are impaired, a lot of toxic substances accumulate in the body, which also affect the functioning of the digestive system. This is manifested in a lack of appetite, a decrease in the stress resistance of the digestive system.

Preventive actions

The kidneys suffer from chronic diseases, high blood pressure, extra pounds in weight. They cannot tolerate drugs that are made on an unnatural basis and hormonal contraceptives. The functions of this organ are disrupted due to a sedentary lifestyle (because of this, disturbances in salt and water metabolism occur), as a result, stones can form.

The kidneys react very sharply to poisoning with poisons, traumatic shocks, various kinds of infections and diseases that are associated with urinary tract obstruction.

For the kidneys to perform their functions well, the body should receive at least 2 liters of water (or liquid in its various forms) per day. To maintain the tone of this organ, you can drink green tea, boil parsley leaves, use fruit drinks from cranberries or lingonberries. You can just drink pure water with lemon or honey and this will already be a good medicine for the kidneys.

The drinks listed above prevent the formation of stones and faster urine excretion.

Conversely, alcohol and coffee negatively affect kidney function. They destroy its cells and tissues, dehydrate the body. And if you drink a lot mineral water then stones may form in the kidneys. Mineral water can be used for a long time only for medicinal purposes and with the permission of a doctor.

It is important to be careful with salty foods. Too much salt in food is dangerous to humans. Its maximum possible amount reaches 5 grams, while some people can eat up to 10 grams.

By watching the video, you will learn about kidney function.

Kidney function is very important for everything to function properly. Violation of only one of the functions of this organ leads to pathological changes in all human systems.

It is no secret that many people can perfectly understand the structure of distant galaxies or find the cause of a malfunction in a car engine in five minutes, and at the same time not even know where this or that organ is in their body. In particular, few people can clearly explain what the importance of the kidneys is, what functions they perform, and what needs to be done to avoid health problems due to a malfunction in their work. We will try to answer all these questions in this article.

Description

The kidneys are a paired organ. They are located just below the lumbar region, but not symmetrically. The right kidney is displaced downward, since the liver is located above it. However, both buds are approximately equal in size. The length of each is approximately 12 cm, the thickness is 3-4 cm, and the width is 5 cm. The weight of the kidneys is 125-200 g. This means that the mass of each of them is less than 1% of the human body weight. The left may be slightly larger than the right.

Structure

The kidneys are made up of nephrons. In a healthy person, almost 2 million nephrons can be present in the body, in which urine is formed. Inside each of them is a renal corpuscle with capillary tangles. They are surrounded by a two-layer capsule lined with epithelium from the inside. Outside, all this "structure" is protected by a membrane and surrounded by tubules.

There are 3 types of nephrons. They are distinguished by the structure and location of the tubules:

• superficial;
• intracortical;
• juxtamedullary.

How the kidneys work

This organ is constantly in operation. Those who are interested in the structure and function of the kidneys should know that blood circulation does not stop in them all the time. Blood is supplied by an artery that divides into multiple arterioles. They bring it to each ball. As a result, urine is produced in the kidneys.

It goes like this:

• at the first stage, plasma and fluid contained in the blood are filtered in the glomeruli;
• the formed primary urine is collected in special reservoirs, where the body absorbs all useful substances from it;
• due to tubular secretion, excess substances move into the urine.

Within 24 hours, the body repeatedly pumps all the blood present in the body. And this process does not stop. The body processes 1 liter of blood every minute.

What is the function of the kidneys?

This organ plays the role of a kind of filter. The main function of the kidneys is urination. It is extremely important. That is why nature has provided for 2 kidneys in a person, and in rare cases there may even be 3. If one of the kidneys fails, the human body can function normally even with one kidney.

The main functions of the kidneys also include:

• excretory;
• ion-regulating;
• metabolic;
• endocrine;
• the function of blood creation;
• osmoregulating;
• concentration.

How filtration works

The kidneys are not limited to pumping blood. In parallel with this process, they remove microbes, toxins, slags and other harmful substances from it that pose a danger to the normal functioning of the organs and systems of the human body.

Then the decay products end up in the blood plasma, which carries them into the ureters, and from where - into the bladder. During urination, all harmful substances are removed from the human body. To prevent the secreted toxins from getting back again, the ureters are equipped with a special valve that opens only in one direction.

Homeostatic and metabolic functions

This body effectively regulates the volume of intercellular fluid and blood. This is achieved by ensuring the balance of the ions contained in the cells. The metabolic function of the kidneys is equally important. It manifests itself in the form of the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids. This organ is also directly involved in the process of gluconeogenesis, which is triggered by fasting.

In addition, it is in the kidneys that "normal" vitamin D is transformed into its more effective form - D3 and enters the body through the so-called cutaneous cholesterol, produced under the influence of the sun's rays.

This organ is also responsible for the active synthesis of proteins, which are necessary as building materials for the formation of new cells.

Endocrine and protective functions

The kidneys help the body fight off alcohol, drugs, nicotine, and the harmful effects of medication. In addition, they synthesize hormones, enzymes and essential substances such as:

• calcitriol, which regulates calcium levels;
• erythropoietin, which causes blood synthesis in the bone marrow.
• renin, which regulates the amount of blood;
• prostaglandins, lipid substances that control blood pressure.

How is the regulation of the kidneys in the body carried out?

The volume and composition of urine that is excreted by the body per day is greatly influenced by hormones:

• adrenaline secreted by the adrenal glands reduces urine production;
• estradiol regulates the level of phosphorus and calcium salts in the blood;
• aldosterone, synthesized by the adrenal cortex, with excessive secretion, causes sodium and fluid retention in the body, and with its lack, a lot of urine is released, which leads to a decrease in blood volume;
• parathyroid hormone - stabilizes the excretion of salts from the body;
• vasopressin - regulates the level of fluid absorption in the kidneys;

The amount of fluid consumed during the day affects the activity of the central osmoreceptors of the hypothalamus. With an excess of water, it decreases, which leads to an increase in the volume of urine excreted by the kidneys. If the body becomes dehydrated, then activity increases and the amount of fluid leaving the body decreases. A very dangerous situation can arise with damage to the hypothalamus, when the volume of urine can reach 4-5 liters per day.

It's not just hormones that regulate kidney function. Their activity is greatly influenced by the vagus nerve and sympathetic fibers.

What symptoms do you need to see a doctor

Kidney problems are a very serious health threat, so if they occur, you cannot postpone a visit to the doctor.

And the fact that there may be a dysfunction of the kidneys may indicate the presence of several symptoms at once from following list:

• increased fatigue;
• reduced immunity (consecutive infectious and colds);
• high temperature, which stays within 37-37.5 degrees Celsius and rises slightly in the evening;
• frequent and painful urination;
• discoloration of urine;
• polyuria (passing too much urine, which becomes excessively light);
• the presence of blood clots in the urine;
• the appearance of edema around the eyes, on the feet, legs, fingers;
• the occurrence of frequent, aching lower back pain, aggravated by being in an upright position.

Why medical care should not be neglected

Many people postpone a visit to the doctor, hoping that everything will "resolve" by itself. Such hopes are in vain, since this way you can only aggravate your problems and lead to a complete dysfunction of the kidneys in the body. At first, the disease can become chronic, and then lead to renal failure. In this case, the cardiovascular, neurological, musculoskeletal, endocrinological systems and gastrointestinal tract... Serious treatment will be required, and in advanced cases - hemodialysis. With this procedure, the patient's blood is repeatedly scrolled through the filter. Each hemodialysis session lasts several hours. The patient needs 2-3 such procedures per week, so the patient is deprived of freedom of movement, since he must visit the medical institution where he is being treated every 2-3 days. And so on until the end of life, at least until medicine comes up with an alternative to hemodialysis.

Who should be doing prevention

Especially attentive to their health should be taken by those whose immediate relatives had or have renal dysfunction. Alertness should be caused by frequent sore throats and / or unstable blood pressure. The best place to start is by visiting a qualified therapist. Most likely, he will offer to donate blood, and also prescribe an ultrasound examination. If the results are “suspicious”, you will need to consult a nephrologist and / or urologist. In general, it is believed that people over 40 years old should have an ultrasound of the kidneys every year.

What's useful

Knowing the structure and function of the kidneys is not enough. It will also be useful to get acquainted with the recommendations of specialists that will help avoid problems in the activities of this body.

To prevent kidney function being impaired, it is required to consume at least 2 liters of water daily. It is this amount that is optimal for the normal functioning of the human body. In addition, with such a drinking regime, the blood will be sufficiently thinned, which will facilitate its filtration by the kidneys.

The use of cranberry or lingonberry juice will also be useful for this organ, as it helps to remove excess fluid from the body and reduces the concentration of urine, which prevents the formation of stones.

For kidney health, the use of watermelons, pumpkin, zucchini and melons is very beneficial, which have an excellent diuretic effect and contain many vitamins and trace elements.

An active lifestyle and sports activities are encouraged, which prevent the occurrence of blood stagnation in the small pelvis. However, the loads should be moderate, and when in the fresh air, you should dress for the weather so as not to get cold. internal organs... For the same reason, girls and boys are not recommended to wear "transparent" underwear during severe frosts.

Your kidneys will be grateful if you sleep on your stomach more often. If in this position you do not get enough sleep, then try to lie like this for about 20 minutes in the period from 17 to 19 hours, since it is at this time that the kidneys work most actively.

Things to Avoid

To minimize the risk of getting kidney disease, doctors advise limiting or avoiding coffee, soda, and alcohol altogether. They destroy cells and are a contributing factor to dehydration.

Drinking large quantities of mineral water may not be the best for kidney health, if this is not provided for in the treatment plan for another disease. The consequence of such a disease can be the formation of stones, which will subsequently be extremely difficult to get rid of.

We have already found out which function of the kidneys in the body is the most important. If a person eats salted food for a long time, then sodium accumulates in the blood, and the amount of such important element like potassium, on the contrary, it decreases. Both have a negative effect on the state of the body, primarily on the cardiovascular system and on appearance person.

It should be remembered that a safe amount of salt for a person per day is no more than 5 g. However, many consume almost 2 times more.

Such a flavoring additive as glutamate negatively affects the condition of the kidneys. It is found in canned vegetables and smoked foods.

Vinegar is one of the foods that irritate the urinary tract. In addition, it can provoke the formation of toxins.

During the long winter months, many are drawn to vegetables and fruits, even greenhouse ones. Doctors recommend giving up their use or including them in your diet very rarely. The fact is that they contain chemicals and pesticides that have an extremely negative effect on the health of the kidneys.

Now you know in the body. We hope that the information presented in this article has helped you to better know your body, and you will learn from it information that will help you avoid problems in the future.