Dialysis Services at Guthrie

About Your Kidneys

The kidneys are bean-shaped, vital organs that we take for granted unless they stop working. The kidneys are situated on either side of the spinal column in the lower back. They are comprised of hundreds of thousands of tiny filters called nephrons. The kidneys perform many functions: removing about two quarts of waste products from your blood each day, removing extra fluids and helping to regulate your blood pressure. A hormone called erythropoietin is produced and released by your kidneys to stimulate the growth of new red blood cells from your bone marrow. The kidneys function as a small chemistry plant, regulating your sodium, potassium, calcium and phosphorus levels. For more information about your kidneys, click here. To find out more about diseases of the kidneys, click here.