the kidneys are two bean-shaped organs that filter your blood. Your kidneys are part of your urinary system.
your kidneys filter about 200 quarts of fluid every day — enough to fill a large bathtub. during this process, your kidneys remove waste, which leaves your body as urine. most people pee about two quarts daily. your body re-uses the other 198 quarts of fluid.
your kidneys also help balance your body’s fluids (mostly water) and electrolytes. electrolytes are essential minerals that include sodium and potassium.
blood flows into your kidneys through a large blood vessel called the renal artery.
tiny blood vessels in your kidney filter the blood.
the filtered blood returns to your bloodstream through a large blood vessel called the renal vein.
pee travels through tubes of muscle called ureters (yer-it-ter) to your bladder.
your bladder stores pee until you release it through urination (peeing).
