Where is kidney

The NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public. How do my kidneys work? How does blood flow through my kidneys? Clinical Trials The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist. You have two kidneys that filter your blood, removing wastes and extra water to make urine. Why are the kidneys important?

Without this balance, nerves, muscles, and other tissues in your body may not work normally. Your kidneys also make hormones that help control your blood pressure make red blood cells keep your bones strong and healthy Watch a video about what the kidneys do.

Each nephron has a glomerulus to filter your blood and a tubule that returns needed substances to your blood and pulls out additional wastes. Wastes and extra water become urine. The glomerulus filters your blood As blood flows into each nephron, it enters a cluster of tiny blood vessels—the glomerulus.

The tubule returns needed substances to your blood and removes wastes A blood vessel runs alongside the tubule. Blood flows into your kidneys through the renal artery and exits through the renal vein. Your ureter carries urine from the kidney to your bladder. What are clinical trials, and are they right for you? Pain in your sides or middle to upper back could be coming from your kidneys. However, having pain in your back or sides does not necessarily mean there is something wrong with your kidneys.

It is possible to have pain on only one side if only one kidney has a problem, or both sides if both kidneys are affected. If the pain you feel is coming from your kidneys, it could be a sign of a kidney problem. Some problems that can cause kidney pain include:. The treatment for kidney pain depends on what is causing it. Kidney pain is felt in your flank, which is the area on either side of your spine between the bottom of your ribcage and your hips.

It usually occurs in one side of your body, but it can occur in both sides. Kidney pain is usually sharp if you have a kidney stone and a dull ache if you have an infection.

Most often it will be constant. Kidney pain is classified according to how bad it is — severe or mild. A kidney stone usually causes severe pain, and the pain from an infection is usually mild. Typically, nothing makes the pain better until the problem is corrected, such as by passing the stone. Back pain is more common than kidney pain and is usually caused by a problem in the muscles, bones, or nerves in your back.

Muscle pain feels like a dull ache. If a nerve has been injured or irritated, the pain is a sharp burning sensation that may travel down your buttock to your lower leg or even your foot. Acute pain lasts days to weeks, subacute pain lasts six weeks to three months, and chronic pain lasts longer than three months.

Back pain may get worse with movement or if you sit or stand for a long time. It may get better if you switch positions or walk around. This condition, called cauda equina syndrome , can cause severe long-term damage to your spinal nerves if not treated right away. Read this article in Spanish. Kidney stones, or renal calculi, are masses made of crystals. Learn more about causes and symptoms here.

A bladder infection is a bacterial infection and a type of UTI, which refers to infection in the bladder, kidneys, ureters, or urethra. Most bladder…. There are many causes for pain in the lower back right side, including some that are unique to men or women.

Here's a step-by-step guide to cleaning your vulva or penis after you pee and the benefits and risks involved in the process. If your doctor suspects complicated urinary tract infection UTI , there are several treatment options they may recommend.