How amazing are the Kidneys | Dr P S Vali | AINU

How amazing are the Kidneys..!

The human body is a cluster of wonderful organ systems. One of the complex yet amazing organ

systems among these organs is the Kidneys. They are the flag bearers of the Blood purification

system.

Each Kidney = One million tiny Nephrons

Humans are blessed with two kidneys. Even though kidneys do weigh less than 0.5 % of the total

body weight, they utilise around 25 % of the blood pumped by the Heart. The functional unit of the

kidney is the “Nephron”. Each kidney contains around one Million Nephrons. These nephrons are

similar to the Chip of a computer. Therefore, both kidneys contain around two million such nephrons,

which carry out the task of blood purification. If the nephrons in both the kidneys are retrieved and

arranged hypothetically end to end, they stretch to a distance of around sixteen kilometres! 

Blood is filtered 400 times in a Day

Kidneys are the mighty organs which filter the blood wholly for four hundred times in a day.

Every organ system is important but kidneys are crafted by Nature to be much more vital.

If filtration by kidneys cannot happen in a precise and flawless way, then no other organ system

can function smoothly as purified blood is an elixir for the proper functioning of all organ systems. 

Kidneys are the True Multitaskers

Kidneys are designed not only to filter the blood but are entrusted with other diverse biological

functions. One of such functions is the production of Erythropoietin, an essential substance

which acts as a trigger in the production of Red Blood Cells from the bone marrow. Another

important function of the Kidney is the generation of Vitamin-D. Therefore, some patients of

kidney failure are prone to bone problems due to the blunting of this Vitamin-D production. In

addition, they fine-tune the number of acids in the blood. They function 

Kidneys regulate the Blood Pressure Regulation

Further, kidneys play a pivotal role in regulating Blood Pressure. Kidneys secrete

‘Renin’ which in turn tightly regulates Blood Pressure.  Kidneys are virtually the Command Centre

for blood pressure regulation.

Four Common Culprits for Kidney Failure

But, even such spectacularly designed kidneys are prone to various malfunctions.

The most common reasons for kidney failure are long-standing and Uncontrolled Diabetes,

long-duration High Blood Pressure, PainkIllers and environmental toxins such as Fluorosis. 

Protect the amazing Organs

Like any other health issue, Prevention is the ultimate cure for Kidney failure. Such preventive

strategies include tight control of Blood Sugar in diabetics, optimum control of high Blood Pressure

and avoidance of the indiscriminate use of painkillers. Always remember that Kidney diseases are

very preventable if the efforts for positive health such as regular exercise, limiting calorie-dense

diet along with regular monitoring of Blood Sugar and Blood pressure is enforced by all of us. 

About the Author

Dr P S Vali, 

MD (Gen Med) DM (Nephro)

Consultant Nephrologist

Dilsukhnagar, Hyderabad

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