Kidney Facts
The kidneys are a pair of reddish-brown organs located on either side of the spine just below the diaphragm, behind the liver and stomach. They are bean-shaped and about 4 and 1/2 inches long, 2 and 1/2 inches wide and one inch thick. The primary function of the kidneys is to remove waste from the body through the production of urine. They also help to regulate blood pressure, blood volume and the chemical (electrolyte) composition of the blood.
Common Diseases That May Lead to Transplantation
- Polycystic kidneys
- Nephrosclerosis
- Chronic pyelonephritis
- Glomerulonephritis
- Diabetes mellitus
- Kidney stones
- Renal cell carcinoma
- Wilms' tumor
This Web site is intended solely for the purpose of electronically providing the public with general health-related information and convenient access to the data resources. UNOS is not affiliated with any one product nor does UNOS assume responsibility for any error, omissions or other discrepancies.
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