Understanding Kidney Health: A Comprehensive Guide

How Kidneys Work

Each kidney contains approximately one million functional units called nephrons. Each nephron consists of two main parts: the glomerulus (a network of tiny blood vessels) and the tubule.

The filtration process occurs in three stages:

• Glomerular Filtration: Blood enters the glomerulus under pressure, and water, glucose, amino acids, and waste products pass through into the Bowman's capsule, while larger molecules and blood cells remain in the bloodstream.

• Tubular Reabsorption: As the filtrate moves through the tubule, useful substances like glucose, amino acids, and ions are reabsorbed back into the bloodstream.

• Tubular Secretion: Additional waste products and excess ions are actively secreted from the blood into the tubule to be excreted as urine.

This elegant process occurs continuously, filtering your entire blood supply multiple times daily.

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