The kidneys are two small bean-shaped organs, approximately the size of a fist, located simply underneath the ribcage on either side of the spine. According to National Kidney Foundation, the kidneys filter approximately 200 quarts of blood every day through the nephrons, hence preserving electrolyte balance and removing some drugs, wastes and excess water from the body. The kidneys create urine as they filter the blood, which gathers in the kidney hips, a funnel-shaped structure. The urine then drains down the ureters to the bladder.
Each renal pelvis collects urine from the calyces and funnels it into the ureter like a wash basin collects water and funnels it into a drain pipeline. The renal pelvis is sometimes called the pyelum (from Greek πύελος pýelos, “trough”, ‘anything hollow’), and the combining type pyelo- denotes the renal pelvis (pyelo- is not to be confused with pyo-). The words infundibulum and choana are other words for funnel-shaped cavities (which medical English got from the Latin and Greek words for “funnel”, respectively), and the renal pelvis is sometimes called the renal infundibulum. The form ‘renal choana’ is logical however is not used.
What Is The Main Function of the Kidney Renal Pelvis?
Gets Water and Waste Products
The kidneys are composed of a million filtering units each, called nephrons. According to the National Kidney and Urologic Conditions Info Clearinghouse, each nephron contains a small capillary, the glomerulus, connected to a picking up tubule for the filtered wastes and water. The wastes and water form urine, which handed downs a series of gradually bigger tubules into a structure called a calyx. All the calices together form the funnel-shaped kidney pelvis, which first receives the urine which has been infiltrated the nephrons and passed down the tubules.
Collection of Urine
After the urine moves down through the series of tubules, it is picked up within the kidney hips. Prior to reaching the kidney hips, some water and necessary electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride, magnesium and phosphorus are reabsorbed back into the body. It is necessary for the body to preserve a specific balance of electrolytes in order to work effectively. The remainder of the wastes, including proteins from tissue and muscle breakdown, and the excess water and electrolytes included in the urine handed down into the renal pelvis for collection. In keeping water and electrolyte balance, in addition to the production of the enzyme renin, the kidneys assist to control high blood pressure.
Moves Urine Into the Ureters
The urine gathers within the kidney hips, situated in the center of each kidney. From there, the urine is moved down the ureters, which connect to the kidney hips, into the bladder, where it can sit for one to eight hours prior to being gotten rid of from the body. According to NKUDIC, the kidneys are so efficient that a 30 to 40 percent reduction in kidney function may be hardly visible. The majority of those who are born with only one kidney and those who contribute among their kidneys are able to live completely normal lives. However, serious problems can take place when kidney function is less than 25 percent. At less than 15 percent function, dialysis or kidney transplant might be considered.
