The vastness of the Internet is full of ads "Selling a kidney." Unlucky entrepreneurs do not suspect that this deal could be the last of their lives. It is impossible to live without kidneys.

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  Unlike many other organs, almost all animals have kidneys, even fish and amphibians.

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  The main function of the kidneys is to cleanse the blood from waste that accumulates in it during the metabolic process.

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  Normally, a person has two kidneys. They are located in the retroperitoneal space on either side of the spine. They resemble beans in shape.

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  Blood enters the kidneys through the veins. The kidneys have special filters - nephrons, through which the blood passes. Waste is collected in the form of urine, and clean blood enters the artery.

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  The kidney has other functions besides purifying the blood. In particular, this organ produces the hormone renin, which is responsible for the regulation of blood pressure.

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  Kidney stone disease is a common and severe kidney disease. Kidney neoplasms cause severe complications. it renal colic(sharp pain), acute pyelonephritis (a sharp inflammation that can kill a person), chronic pyelonephritis(prolonged inflammation accompanied by severe pain).

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  Improper diet is of great importance in the formation of kidney stones. Various mistakes in compiling your diet lead to the occurrence of different types of stones.

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  Oxalate stones. They are formed when too much oxalic acid is ingested into the body, the salts of which form stones. Oxalic acid is found in lettuce, sorrel, cucumbers, spinach, and beets.

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  Urate stones. They occur when the metabolism of uric acid is disturbed, as well as when there is an excess of purine bases in food. These are organic natural compounds found in caffeine, legumes and meat products.

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  Phosphate stones. Excessive concentration of calcium and phosphorus in the blood leads to their appearance. Their excess, in particular, provides an excessive consumption of mineral water.

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The human kidney is a unique organ that acts as a complete waste disposal system that operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They continuously cleanse the blood from harmful substances that can (if accumulated in large quantities) harm health or even lead to the death of the body. The structure of the human kidney cannot be called simple: the kidney parenchyma, consisting of several elements, acts as a filtering mechanism, and the renal pelvis acts as a waste-removing mechanism.

To understand how important the role of the kidneys is in the human body, you just need to familiarize yourself with the information below about the structure and function of the kidneys.

Paired organ - human kidneys

Human kidneys: how one of the most complex organs of our body works and how it works

Before learning about the features of the structure and work of the human kidneys, we will determine the location of this paired organ.

To get a visual answer to the question of a person, you need to put your palms on the sides to the waist and put thumbs up: the target organ will be located on the line between the fingertips. In rare cases, one or both kidneys may be located significantly lower or higher in abdominal cavity.

The structure of the human kidney

An interesting fact about the structure of the human kidney: “Each function of the kidney is somehow connected with blood. That is why a huge number of blood vessels are present in the structure of the human kidney. The human kidneys contain a total of 160 km of blood vessels. "

The human kidneys are entrusted with many vital functions. If you look at this organ in section, you can see that the anatomy of the kidney is not primitive. The main elements of the kidney structure are:

• Renal capsule- a thin, but very strong shell, in which the kidney body is enclosed. The components of the renal capsule are the renal parenchyma and the urine collection and excretion system.
• Parenchyma of the kidney- tissue, consisting of cortical (outer region) and cerebral (inner region) substance. The medulla contains 8-12 renal pyramids, which, in turn, are formed by the collecting ducts. The kidney parenchyma contains nephrons.
• Nephron- filtering unit of the human kidney.
• Renal pelvis- a funnel-shaped cavity that receives urine from the nephrons.
• Ureter- the organ that receives urine from the renal pelvis and delivers it to the bladder.
• Renal artery- a blood vessel that branches off the aorta and brings blood contaminated with waste products into the kidney. In the kidney itself, the artery is divided into several more branches. About 20% of the blood pumped by the heart is delivered to the kidney every minute. Some arteries feed the cells of the kidneys themselves.
• Renal vein- a blood vessel that delivers already filtered blood from the kidneys to the vena cava.

Interesting fact: "Every day the renal artery delivers over 180 liters of blood to the kidneys."

How do human kidneys work?

The work of the human kidneys is organized in 2 stages: blood filtration and urine excretion. They take place one after the other as follows:

• Kidney parenchyma cleanses the blood
  Although small in size, the human kidneys are a powerful filter that purifies our blood from harmful substances. The parenchyma of each kidney contains about a million nephrons, which are the main filtering elements of the human kidneys. There are arterioles in the nephrons - small blood vessels(also called glomeruli), which are intertwined with thin tubes. The blood, which contains toxins, excess water, electrolytes and salts, travels to the kidney parenchyma and enters the arterioles. Waste products settle in the tubules, but there may be chemicals that the body can still use. Such substances (phosphorus, potassium, sodium, etc.) return to the blood, after which the tubules send the remaining waste products to the urinary area of ​​the kidneys.

An interesting fact: "At birth, in the parenchyma of each human kidney, there are about 1 million glomeruli, and every ten years lived takes away 100,000 of them."

• The renal pelvis collects and excretes urine
  After only waste products (urine) have accumulated in the tubules, they are sent to the renal pelvis, located in the center of the organ. This is where urine is collected and then sent to the ureter, which is attached to the renal pelvis. After passing through it, urine reaches the bladder, where it can stay for up to 8 hours before being excreted from the body.

The structure and function of the kidneys in the human body

Kidney function in the human body

Almost everyone knows what function the kidneys perform. Undoubtedly, a key function of the human kidney is to cleanse waste from the blood. Waste is any substance not used by the body. So, for example, from the food that enters the body, during the digestion process, all valuable substances are extracted, which enter the blood and then are delivered to all cells of the body.

What remains unused are waste products, the most harmful of which are urea and uric acid. A large accumulation of these substances in the body can lead to fatal dangerous diseases... The human kidney parenchyma cleans these waste products from the blood by filtration, and the renal pelvis collects and directs them to the bladder.

An interesting fact: "In a day, the parenchyma of the human kidneys manage to completely purify the blood about 50 times."

But kidney function is not limited to blood purification. This important body will also perform several other important functions:

• Urination which is very difficult process, during which the human kidney parenchyma retains a certain volume of water, chemicals in the blood and removes excess water, toxins and nitrogenous compounds (which together constitute urine). Without this process, the body could not survive due to the large accumulation of harmful toxic substances.

Interesting fact: "Every minute 1300 ml of blood enters the kidneys, and 1299 ml are released from them, and 1 ml in the form of urine is collected in the renal pelvis."

• Maintaining normal water-salt balance in the blood... As you know, approximately 50-60% of a person's body weight is water, and this substance is extremely important for the life of the body. Nevertheless, its overabundance, just like the lack of it, can lead to the development serious illnesses... The same applies to salts, on which the concentration of blood depends. The human kidneys, removing excess water and salts during the filtration process, support water-salt balance blood, which is necessary for the normal functioning of the whole organism.
• Blood pressure regulation... This is partly possible by removing excess water from the blood (when too much water enters the blood, it expands, which leads to an increase in pressure). But beyond that, the human kidney parenchyma produces prostaglandins and the enzyme renin, which are also involved in regulating our blood pressure and electrolyte balance.
• Regulation of the pH level in the body... For bacteria that cause serious degenerative diseases, an acidic environment is most favorable for reproduction. The human kidneys, which maintain a plasma pH of 7.4 and remove excess acids, prevent the risks of developing many dangerous diseases and create favorable conditions for the functioning of all biological systems of the body.
• Production of hormones... The human kidney parenchyma produces the hormone erythropoietin, which plays a key role in the formation of red blood cells in the bone marrow.
• Vitamin D production... The kidneys convert calcidiol to calcitriol, which, as the active form of vitamin D, ensures that calcium is absorbed into small intestine and makes it suitable for use in bone development processes.

Every kidney function is essential to good health. If, for any reason, a person's kidneys do not function properly, this can lead to very serious consequences, including other organs, and even death.

Human kidney size

Like all other organs, human kidneys grow with the body, but sometimes during this process malfunctions occur, which can be due to various factors. In this case, one or both of the buds may grow too large or small. When a person has normal kidney sizes, the organ functions correctly, and if the size of at least one kidney is different from the norm, this can affect its functioning and lead to health problems.

Kidney size is normal

Normally, the size of the kidneys in adults is the following parameters:

• Length: 10-13cm
• Width: 5 - 7.5 cm
• Thickness: 2 - 2.5 cm

If we compare with the objects we are accustomed to, then human kidneys are similar in size to an ordinary computer mouse or fist.

The average weight of an adult kidney varies between 150-160 g, and together both kidneys make up about 0.5% of the total body weight of a person. These are just standard parameters of healthy kidneys, but they can change depending on the height, weight of the person, and even his gender.

Kidney size in children

To say that there is a norm when talking about kidney size in children is not so easy, because different children develop in completely different ways. Nevertheless, in the course of some studies, scientists were able to determine the average length of the kidneys in children with reference to age:

• 0-2 months - 4.9 cm
• 3 months-1 year - 6.2 cm
• 1-5 years old - 7.3 cm
• 5-10 years old - 8.5 cm
• 10-15 years old - 9.8 cm
• 15-19 years old - 10.6 cm

Again, it's worth noting that these are only averages. The actual size of the kidneys in children in each case depends on the individual parameters (weight, height, etc.) of the child.

An interesting fact: "If we compare the size of the kidneys in newborns and adults, then in relation to body weight, the kidneys of babies are 3 times larger than the kidneys of adults."

Abnormality: different kidney sizes

Different sizes of the kidneys may not cause a person special problems and in no way affect the ability of this organ to perform its functions. However, in most cases, severe abnormalities in the size or structure of the kidney are associated with diseases that negatively affect health. By assessing the size of the kidneys by, you can identify potential threats.

If the kidney is significantly less than normal, the following diseases may be the reason:

• Chronic pyelonephritis
• Chronic renal failure
• Chronic kidney obstruction
• Congenital underdevelopment
• Renal artery stenosis, etc.

If the size of a person's kidney significantly exceeds the norm, then we can talk about the following diseases:

• Acute renal thrombosis
• Acute renal infarction
• Acute pyelonephritis
• Doubling kidney
• Polycystic kidney disease

It is important to know that in the presence of any diseases, it does not always happen that they may be completely absent, and the disease, meanwhile, continues to slowly destroy vital organs. Also, some are not always immediately recognizable, as they often mimic the symptoms of other diseases.

For example, a person may experience loss of appetite, pallor of human skin, muscle cramps, and simply fatigue.

What happens if a person's kidneys stop working?

The main function of the kidneys in humans is to cleanse the blood from toxic substances. And if this organ stops working, then toxins, excess water and waste products will begin to accumulate in the blood, poisoning the body. In such cases, we are talking about the development of uremia. The person will develop swelling of the hands and / or feet and become very tired. If untreated, uremia can lead to convulsions, coma, and even death.

In general, any symptoms should be treated very carefully, and if the patient has already been prescribed, say, some other disease of this organ, it is necessary to take action immediately, since delay can result in the extinction of kidney function, which is fraught with serious consequences.

Interesting fact: "The kidneys can handle cleaning the blood until they have lost 70-75% of their functionality."

Thus, based on the foregoing, we can conclude that human kidneys, small in size, but rather complex in structure, perform many functions, without which the existence of an organism becomes impossible. That is why it is extremely important to be attentive to the health of your kidneys, and in case of problems, immediately seek medical help. Fortunately, modern medicine can successfully solve many problems by offering patients the treatment and control of acute, infectious and chronic kidney diseases.

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The site provides background information for informational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases must be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs have contraindications. A specialist consultation is required!

Kidney are some of the vital human organs. These small paired organs tirelessly cleanse our body as from constantly formed in the process metabolic processes toxic substances, and from medicines coming from outside, industrial toxic substances. Moreover, the result of the work of these organs is obvious with each urination - detoxification occurs with the excretion of urine with dissolved in it harmful substances... In this article, we will consider the filtering function of the kidneys, although in fact these organs carry out much more tasks in our body: hormonal, maintaining a normal acid-base balance ( maintaining blood ph within 7.35-7.47), regulation electrolyte composition blood, stimulation of hematopoiesis, regulation of blood pressure.

Some interesting facts about kidney function

During the day, a quarter of the total volume of circulating blood passes through the kidneys, and this is 1500 liters.
During filtration, the kidneys produce 180 liters of primary urine every day.
The kidneys contain at least 2 million functional units - nephrons.
The total filtering surface of the nephron tubes is 1.5 square meters.

Kidney anatomy

The kidneys are paired organs located in lumbar region behind the abdominal cavity. The mass of one kidney is about 150 grams. It has a shape that looks like a bean. Outside, the kidney is covered with a dense capsule, under which the functional layer of the renal tissue is located.

Conventionally, the kidney can be divided into 2 functional parts:
1. Directly kidney tissue - carrying out the main function - filtration of blood with the formation of urine.

2. Pelvicellular system - that part of the kidney that accumulates and removes the resulting urine.
Cortical and medulla are secreted directly in the renal tissue. The cortex is located closer to the surface of the kidney, the medulla is closer to the calyx-pelvic system. In the cortex, those parts of the nephron predominate, which carry out the formation of primary urine, in the same way, the main part of the circulatory system of the kidneys is located in the cortex. In the medulla, the tubules of the nephron and the collecting tubes that excrete the final urine predominate.

Pelvicellular system- it can be imagined as a container of irregular shape, covered with mucous membrane, in which there is a constant accumulation of newly formed urine before it is sent through the ureters to the bladder.

What does kidney tissue look like under a microscope?

In this article, we will be primarily interested in the filtering function of the kidneys. In this regard detailed description the main functional unit of the kidney, the nephron, will be exposed.

Conventionally, the nephron can be divided into 3 parts:
1. Circulatory system (renal glomeruli with afferent and efferent arterioles)
2. Bowman's capsule (in which primary urine forms)
3. Tubular system (convoluted tubules, collecting tubes)

Circulatory system The kidney originates from the descending arch of the aorta, from which two renal arteries extend at an angle of 90 degrees. Upon reaching the renal tissue, these arteries branch, become more numerous, and their diameter decreases. At the level of arterioles ( small diameter vessels) the formation of renal glomeruli occurs. This vascular formation actually resembles a fancifully intertwined glomerulus of capillaries, into which the inflowing arteriole flows and from which the outflowing arteriole originates. The walls of the capillaries of the vascular glomerulus are lined with a unicellular layer and have fenestrated formations through which some large organic substances pass through ( amino acids, some protein macromolecules).

Bowman's capsule - a cupped structure that envelops the renal glomerulus. It is represented by a double capsule of the glomerulus, the liquid part of the blood penetrates into the lumen of this capsule together with some substances dissolved in it - primary urine is formed. The glomerulus capsule is formed by the epithelium - a single-layer cell tissue. For cellular elements of blood ( erythrocytes, leukocytes) Bowman's capsule is normally impenetrable.

Tubular system - represented by coiled tubes that originate in the Bowman's capsule and end in the outlet of the collecting duct, which carries the final urine into the calyx-pelvis system. These tubules are also lined with a single-celled denser epithelium.

What processes take place in the nephron?

First of all, urine is formed in the nephron. Let's take a closer look at the mechanism of blood filtration as a result of which toxic substances and metabolic products are excreted from the body. For this, it is necessary to give general concepts to some of the physical phenomena occurring in the functional part of the kidneys.

The processes occurring at the nephron level can be characterized by three phenomena: ultrafiltration, secretion and reabsorption.

More about each of these phenomena:

Ultrafiltration - the process of transition of blood plasma from the lumen of the capillaries of the glomerulus to the lumen of Bowman's capsule. This physical phenomenon occurs passively - that is, without the expenditure of energy. The reason for the ultrafiltration process in the nephron can be considered the pressure difference in the lumen of the capillaries of the vascular glomerulus and in the cavity of the Bowman's capsule.

Secretion - is a process of active transfer of certain substances from the blood that washes the tubules into the lumen of the tubules. It is carried out by the cells that form the inner layer of the kidney tubules.

Reabsorption - the process of active reuptake of certain substances that our body considers useful for itself. It is carried out by the cells that form the inner layer of the kidney tubules.

Active transport Is a process that occurs at the cellular level and represents the transfer of substances between biological fluids against a concentration gradient using energy.

Passive transport - the transition of substances and minerals from one biological fluid to another under the influence of a concentration gradient without energy consumption.

So, the blood reaches the vascular glomerulus along the arteriole. Blood flow in vascular glomerulus it slows down sharply due to a sharp increase in the capacity of the vascular bed and the difference in the diameter of the section of the inflowing and outflowing arterioles. Slowing down blood flow is necessary for more thorough ultrafiltration of blood. The glomerular cavity and the Bowman's capsule cavity are separated by the so-called hematonephrotic barrier, which consists of the capillary wall and the Bowman's capsule wall. Blood plasma with a certain set of minerals and organic substances dissolved in it passes through this barrier. Normally, the cellular elements of the blood are not able to overcome the hematonephrotic barrier and find themselves in the lumen of Bowman's capsule. An important circumstance is that molecules over 65 kDa cannot penetrate through the gamatonephrotic barrier.

Why does the liquid part of the blood rush into the lumen of the Bowman capsule?
The answer is simple - the diameter of the efferent arteriole is 20 - 30% wider than the diameter of the efferent arteriole. For this reason, a high blood pressure, which facilitates partial penetration of liquid into the lumen of the Bowman capsule, where the pressure is lower. The selective penetration of blood plasma with a certain set of organic and mineral substances dissolved in it is determined by the properties of the gamatonephrotic barrier.

The blood plasma passing as a result of the ultrafiltration process into the lumen of the Bowman capsule, together with the substances dissolved in it, is called primary urine. Let us recall that 180 liters of primary urine are formed in the kidneys per day, and the volume of our daily urination varies between 0.5 and 2.0 liters.
Why such difference?
The thing is that partially the primary urine, passing through the loops of the renal tubules, is reabsorbed ( returns to the bloodstream).

With the passage of the tubular system, there is a reverse absorption from the primary urine of those substances that our body considers useful. Moreover, both active and passive transport of substances is carried out through the wall of the tubules. As a result of reabsorption, some organic substances are returned ( amino acids, proteins, fats, vitamins), as well as special structures of tubular cells carry out the transfer of electrolytes - sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium. Passively, that is, without the expenditure of energy, water mainly returns to the body - it is pulled along by organic and mineral substances returned from the primary urine.

Along the way, some toxic substances are actively excreted into the lumen of the tubules, which are as by-products of metabolic processes: creatinine, uric acid, hydrogen ions, potassium; and toxic substances coming from outside: industrial toxic substances, drugs.

As a result of the active work of the nephron at the level of the collecting ducts, the outflow of urine, concentrated by substances excreted from the body, occurs. An important fact is the fact of reabsorption of substances necessary for the body that have penetrated into the tubules of the nephron as part of the primary urine. For example, with diabetes mellitus in the primary urine, the glucose content can repeatedly interrupt the norm, because the tubules of the nephron are not able to reabsorb all glucose from the primary urine and therefore it is excreted from the body as part of the final urine. Along the way high concentration glucose in the final urine pulls water with it. It is this circumstance that is the cause of an important complex of symptoms. diabetes mellitus: an increase in the volume of daily urination ( polyuria), an increase in daily water consumption ( polydipsia).

How is the regulation of kidney function?

Basically, the regulation of the work of nephrons occurs under the influence of hormones. The hormones most actively involved in this process are the following: vasopressin ( antidiuretic hormone), a bundle of renin-aldosterone.

More about the mechanism of their action:
Antidiuretic hormone - this hormone is a protein molecule. It is synthesized and excreted into the blood by the hypothalamic-pituitary system. This part of the brain reacts to the salt composition of the blood - in the case of an increase in sodium concentration, an active secretion of the hormone occurs. Together with the blood, this hormone reaches the kidney tissue. Upon reaching the renal tubules, the hormone attaches to specific areas on the cell surface of the renal tubules in a key-to-lock fashion. As a result, under the influence of this hormone, the process of water reabsorption occurs.

Renin-angiotensin system - provides regulation of vascular tone, increasing blood pressure and blood flow to the kidneys. Renin is produced by the renal tissue in response to decreased blood supply to the renal tissue. Along with an increase in blood pressure, these hormones lead to an increase in sodium reabsorption, which contributes to fluid retention in the body.

Kidney function is quite complex and depends on many factors. The kidneys are built into the organ system that ensures the constancy of the internal environment of the body. It is thanks to the kidneys that our body gets rid of toxic substances, the normal acidity of the blood is maintained, the electrolyte balance is ensured, the level of hemoglobin in the blood is regulated, normal level blood pressure.

Pregnancy with one kidney: is it possible? Previously it was assumed not. But modern medicine allows carrying a child, even if the expectant mother has one paired organ.

Both mom and fetus will be safe and sound with regular supervision throughout pregnancy by a qualified doctor. The way childbirth and pregnancy will proceed is determined by the degree of consequences that have arisen due to the absence of one of the paired organs in the body.

Kidney function

The kidneys are a paired bean-shaped organ, weighing from 120 to 200 g each (in adults). Their localization is the posterior wall of the peritoneum, to the right and left of the spine, at the level of the upper thoracic and lower lumbar vertebrae (the location of the left is 1-1.5 cm higher than the right). They perform several functions, but the main one is excretory.

It is carried out by excreting urine, which contains water and the end products of the body's metabolic processes dissolved in it. With urine, substances that are unnecessary for him are excreted from the body. Urine is formed as a result of the filtration and secretion functions of the glomerular system of nephrons.

Another important task of the kidneys is to perform:

1. Endocrine function. As a result of the work of the kidneys, the hormone renin is synthesized (participates in water balance, regulates the volume of circulating blood), erythropoietin (stimulates the maturation of red blood cells bone marrow), prostaglandins (involved in the regulation of blood pressure).
2. Metabolic. This includes the synthesis of vitamin D3 (a more active form) from vitamin D; maintaining a certain ratio between proteins, carbohydrates, fats in the internal media of the body.
3. Ion-regulating. Human blood contains substances that determine alkaline environment(hydrogen ions) and an acidic environment (bicarbonate ions), the balanced ratio of which is regulated by the kidneys.
4. Osmoregulating. Paired organs provide the required concentration of potassium and sodium ions to maintain osmosis.

It should be understood that if the normal kidney should be 2, then the absence of one of them is a pathology, despite the fact that clinical practice indicates the opportunity to live with her. In this case, it is imperative to conduct healthy image life.

It includes correct diet with strict restrictions on the use of salty, fatty, spicy, etc., the absence of excessive physical activity, careful prevention and timely treatment infectious process.

Possible consequences

One kidney is either hereditary or acquired pathology. There is evidence indicating that 5 out of 1000 people suffer from it. Congenital absence of an organ is called agenesis. It occurs due to violations during intrauterine development.

More often agenesis is unilateral, with bilateral (both kidneys are absent at once) - the death of a born child is almost instantaneous. But a one-sided one is sometimes not even detected immediately. If the only organ functions normally, then there are no visible symptoms of pathology. And only during preventive diagnostic studies is agenesis detected.

A kidney is removed (nephrectomy) when diseases such as pyelonephritis, kidney stones, tumor, polycystic disease, etc., cannot be treated conservatively (with the help of drugs). It is reliably known that one kidney can perform the functions of both by 75%, this is ensured by the high compensatory abilities of the paired organ.

To perform the necessary functions, a single organ can almost double in size. Every healthy kidney has reserve nephrons (cells) that start working only if the constantly functioning nephrons fail. Immediately after nephrectomy, these reserves are connected to work, the organ becomes hyperemic (reddened) and increases in size (hypertrophy).

The work of the remote organ is fully compensated in a year and a half. And even in one normally functioning kidney, over time, some of the nephrons become reserve, since later the function of renal cells may be lost due to constant work with a doubled load.

Given these facts, women who want to give birth need to plan pregnancy 2 (or more) years after the loss of one of the kidneys. During this time, compensatory functions will be fully restored, and the functional reserve of one working organ will not be exhausted.

In a pregnant woman's body, a single organ is even more stressed due to the increased volume of fluid in the body. Accordingly, more fluid is filtered out by the organ and more urine is excreted.

Monitoring the entire pregnancy is very important, as chronic renal failure can occur at any time. During a normal pregnancy, a woman with one kidney does not experience a significant increase in urinary protein and urinary disturbances.

It does not matter which kidney is left (right or left). However, this statement is relative, since in pregnant women with both kidneys, complications most often occur in the right organ and ureter.

Complications during pregnancy

During pregnancy, due to the increased load on all organs and a decrease in immunity, complications are possible both in women with two kidneys and in those who have undergone nephrectomy or were born with agenesis. The most common complications are as follows:

1. Infections: pyelonephritis. This complication occurs in 50% of pregnant women. Fortunately, the functional capacity of the only kidney is usually not reduced in this case. But if the past unilateral pyelonephritis has become the cause of nephrectomy, the risk of its occurrence on a healthy organ during pregnancy increases even more.
2. Late toxicosis, or gestosis. This complication occurs at a significantly higher frequency in pregnant women with one kidney than in those who give birth with two. Gestosis is manifested by high blood pressure, edema, and an increase in the protein content in the urine. Under the supervision of a doctor, in 50% of cases, gestosis does not become severe and allows you to give birth to a healthy baby without serious consequences for the mother's health. In the remaining 50% of cases, gestosis becomes the cause of intrauterine infection or insufficient body weight, which can be further cured. The risk of death of a newborn from gestosis in women with one kidney is not much higher.
3. Pregnant women with nephrectomy caused by tuberculosis, kidney stones, purulent process feel even better after removal, since the focus of infection is no longer present in the body, and the performance of functions is facilitated.
4. Future women in labor who had nephrectomy due to unilateral hydronephrosis (dilated renal pelvis, partially atrophied renal medulla and, as a result, renal failure) have a high chance of a successful delivery if the remaining organ functions well.
5. Women with nephrectomy due to unilateral pyelonephritis can give birth to a healthy baby without complications during childbirth and pregnancy. If purulent lesions have formed in the remaining kidney, then the risk of various complications increases significantly. Nevertheless, correct treatment will increase the chances of success.
6. Serious complications of pregnancy and childbirth can be caused by a single kidney affected by tuberculosis. Often after nephrectomy, foci of infection are observed first in bladder, and then in a previously healthy organ. It is necessary to carry out diagnostic studies for several years, since renal tuberculosis is characterized by frequent relapses.
7. The prognosis during pregnancy with one kidney is also favorable if nephrectomy was performed due to kidney stones, which did not complicate the remaining healthy organ.
8. More often complications of pregnancy and childbirth occur in pregnant women with one kidney due to nephrectomy for renal cystic disease. The doctor's permission to maintain pregnancy is given on an individual basis.
9. Complications during pregnancy appear in women born with unilateral agenesis if a single kidney cannot fully adapt to work for two. Clinical data indicate that such women in labor are more likely to have children with improperly developed organs of the genitourinary system. Also, in a similar situation, the risk of pyelonephritis is higher, and in the worst case, intrauterine fetal death.
10. A negative prognosis is given to pregnant women with one kidney due to a tumor on the other. A initially healthy organ can have metastases without showing vivid symptoms. In such cases, pregnancy is either prohibited or allowed after a certain time.

Summarizing

Women with one kidney carry a fetus for the same period as women with two. Having given birth to a child once without serious complications with one kidney, a woman can give birth to more.

The organs of the excretory system purify the blood, and also perform many other useful functions in the body, which is why it is so important to know some interesting facts about the human kidney.

1. Normally, a person should have two kidneys.... They are paired organs that enter the urinary system, and are located in lumbar spine. The buds are shaped like giant beans. The right is below the left.
2. The kidneys perform the function of purifying the blood... During the metabolism in the body, waste appears, from which it gets rid of. The blood first flows through the veins and then into the nephrons - tiny filters. There, its cleansing takes place. Toxic substances are excreted in the urine, and clean blood fills the arteries again.
3. Thanks to the kidneys, a constant volume of fluid in the human body is maintained... In adults, the body contains 5-6 liters of blood, which is continuously filtered. If in this process a failure occurs unexpectedly, then the non-excreted toxic substances will harm the person.
4. The kidneys produce a special hormone called renin.... It is responsible for cleansing waste products from the blood and blood pressure. Elevated level the content of renin in the body is dangerous to humans. The cardiovascular system still suffers from this.
5. The worst kidney disease is kidney stone disease... It is difficult and causes complications that can manifest themselves in the form of colic. Some people develop pyelonephritis, a disease characterized by severe inflammation and severe pain.
6. The reasons for the formation of kidney stones can be heredity (the disease is often transmitted from parents), ecology, as well as hypervitaminosis. These factors do not depend on the person himself, he only needs to monitor his health all the time.
7. Kidney stones are most often formed due to poor diet... In order not to suffer from the severe consequences of the disease later, a person needs to limit the use of any meat, spinach and sorrel. The sweet soda is also harmful to the organs.
8. Urolithiasis can be prevented by regularly drinking the prescribed amount of water (about 2 liters per day). However, during pressure or heart problems, it is better to limit fluid intake. So there is no risk to health.
9. During pregnancy, the load on the kidneys is greatly increased in women.... These organs spend a lot of energy in this case. During the period of bearing a child, they often worsen chronic diseases... Before conception, you must visit a doctor and examine the organs.
10. Smoking and drinking alcohol negatively affects kidney function... They begin to function worse and filter the blood more slowly, so toxic substances stay in the body longer. So gradually the organs are destroyed.
11. Violations in the work of this body are often said appearance human... Dark circles and puffiness under the eyes, as well as weakness in the legs, can mean there are kidney problems. When it comes from the body bad smell, this also sometimes indicates problems with the organs.
12. Kidney disease in childhood often occurs due to nervous shocks... Parents need to be more comfortable with their children. You should not shout at them for any reason and load schoolchildren with classes in different circles. Remember, your child's health is more important.
13. The kidneys are responsible for the production of vitamin D in the body.... There, many substances are converted into a more active form (D2 is replaced by D3). The last vitamin has a huge effect on individual systems of the body: immune, nervous, bone, etc.
14. Kidney transplant surgery is one of the most demanded in the world... A timely transplant often saves a person's life. So, on the Internet, on special platforms, advertisements for the sale of this organ, which costs a lot of money, often appear.
15. Regular kidney exams can help prevent surgery... For this, it is still worth eating right. If your back suddenly pains in the lumbar region, you should visit a urologist. He will tell you what medications to take or advise you to see a surgeon.

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