Fresenius Medical Care

What Kidneys Do

Kidneys are two bean-shaped organs about the size of your fist. They are located on either side of the spine, just below the rib cage. Inside each kidney are about a million tiny units called nephrons. Nephrons are the filters that remove fluid and wastes from the blood. The fluid and wastes filtered out of the kidneys form urine.

Your kidneys perform several important functions:

• Filter your blood to remove waste and excess fluid
• Control the making of red blood cells
• Help control blood pressure
• Help control the amounts of calcium, potassium, and phosphorus in the body
• “Turn on” vitamin D to keep bones healthy