Your kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located near your lower back. They are part of your body's waste removal system. Every day, your kidneys filter about 200 litres of blood. They remove waste products and extra water to make urine. Without kidneys, harmful substances would build up in your blood. This would make you very sick. Kidneys also help control blood pressure and produce red blood cells. They are vital organs for keeping your body healthy and balanced. Blood enters each kidney through a large artery called the renal artery.

Inside the kidney, the artery branches into smaller and smaller vessels. These vessels lead to tiny filtering units called nephrons. There are about one million nephrons in each kidney. Each nephron has a tiny cluster of blood vessels called a glomerulus. The glomerulus acts like a sieve, allowing water and small molecules to pass through, but keeping blood cells and large proteins in the bloodstream. The filtered fluid moves from the glomerulus into a tubule. The tubule is a long, twisted tube. As the fluid travels through the tubule, useful substances such as glucose, vitamins, and some water are reabsorbed back into the blood.

This is a careful balancing act. The tubule also secretes waste products from the blood into the fluid. By the time the fluid reaches the end of the tubule, it has become urine. Urine is mostly water, with urea and other waste chemicals dissolved in it. The urine from all the nephrons flows into collecting ducts. These ducts merge to form the renal pelvis, a funnel-shaped space. From there, urine travels down a tube called the ureter to the bladder. The bladder stores urine until you go to the toilet.

The glomerulus acts like a sieve, allowing water and small molecules to pass through, but keeping blood cells and large proteins in the bloodstream.

When you urinate, the bladder empties through another tube called the urethra. This entire pathway ensures that waste is removed from your body in a controlled way. Without this process, your blood would become polluted. Keeping your kidneys healthy is important. Drinking plenty of water helps your kidneys flush out waste. Eating a balanced diet with less salt and processed foods also helps. Regular exercise and avoiding too much sugar keep your blood pressure normal, which protects your kidneys. Smoking and too much alcohol can damage them over time. By taking care of your kidneys, you help your entire body stay clean and well. Your kidneys work hard every day, so they deserve your attention.