Get to Know the Structure of the Kidneys and Their Important Role in the Body

Ginjal adalah salah satu organ penting di dalam tubuh yang memiliki fungsi cukup vital, yaitu membuang semua ‘sampah’ yang ada di dalam tubuh melalui urine.

You need to know that every part of the kidney structure has an important role in the body.

To find out the function of the various parts of the kidney, see the following information!

Various Parts of the Kidney Structure and Their Functions

Kidneys are a pair of body organs that are shaped like beans and are the size of a fist.

This organ has something hard and fibrous in each kidney to support or protect the soft tissue inside.

On the outside, there are two layers of fat that serve to provide further protection.

The kidneys in adults are about 10-12 cm long and 5-7 cm wide and weigh about 150 grams.

If a kidney is cut in half, it is seen that the kidney is divided into several parts with a dark outer part (cortex) and a lighter inner part (medulla).

In addition, you also need to know the various parts of the kidney structure and their functions. Here is a complete explanation:

1. Nephron

Nephrons are one of the important parts of the kidney. This part can take in blood, metabolize nutrients, and help remove waste products from the filtered blood.

Each kidney has about 1 million nephrons with various collections of internal structures, such as:

2. Renal Corpuscle (Kidney Blood Cell)

After blood enters the kidney cells through the nephron, which is also called the Malpighian body. This kidney cell has two additional structures, such as:

• Glomerulus: This cluster of capillaries can absorb proteins from the blood that passes through the renal corpuscles.

• Bowman's capsule: The remaining fluid, called capsular urine, is drained into the renal tubule.

3. Renal Tubules (Kidney Tubules)

The renal tubules are a series of tubes that begin after Bowman's capsule and end in the collecting ducts.

Each tubule has several parts, namely:

• Proximal convoluted tubule: This part is useful for reabsorbing water, sodium, and glucose back into the blood.

• Loop of Henle: This section functions to absorb potassium, chloride, and sodium into the blood.

• Distal convoluted tubule: This part of the kidney is able to reabsorb more sodium into the blood and absorb potassium and acid.

By the time the fluid reaches the end of the tubule, all of these substances are diluted and filled with urea.

Well, urea itself is a by-product of protein metabolism that is released in the urine.

3. Renal Cortex

The renal cortex, or kidney cortex, is the outermost part of the kidney that contains the glomeruli and convoluted tubules.

This section is surrounded on the outer edge by the renal capsule, which is a layer of fatty tissue.

This part is protected by the renal cortex and the renal capsule which is able to protect the inner structure of the kidney.

4. Renal Pyramids

The renal pyramids are small structures that contain a series of nephrons and tubules. These tubules are useful for transporting fluid to the kidneys.

After this, the fluid can move away from the nephron towards the inner structures that serve to collect and transport urine out of the kidney.

5. Renal Pelvis

The renal pelvis is a part of the kidney structure which is a funnel-shaped space in the deepest part of the kidney. It serves as a pathway for fluid on its way to the bladder.

6. Calyces

The first part of the renal pelvis contains the calyces. These are small cup-shaped spaces that collect fluid before it moves into the bladder.

In addition, this section is also where extra fluids and waste become urine.

7. Hilum

The hilum is a small hole located on the inner edge of the kidney with a curved inward shape that resembles a bean.

Some parts of the hilum include:

• Renal artery: this section is useful for carrying oxygenated blood from the heart to the kidneys for filtering.

• Renal vein: this serves to carry filtered blood from the kidneys back to the heart.

8. Ureter

The ureter, or urinary tract, is a muscular tube that helps push urine into the bladder, where it collects and passes out of the body.

Well, those are some parts of the kidney along with their complete functions. By knowing this, you will understand very well that the kidneys have many functions that can keep the body healthy.

Therefore, it is important to keep this organ healthy so that it can function properly.

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