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Kidney Cancer

  • Posted: 01/19/2011

The Kidneys

Your kidneys are a pair of organs in your abdomen. Each kidney is about the size of a fist.

Your kidneys are part of the urinary tract. They make urine by removing wastes and extra water from your blood.

Urine collects in a hollow space (renal pelvis) in the middle of each kidney. Urine passes from your renal pelvis into your bladder through a long tube called a ureter. Urine leaves your bladder through a shorter tube (the urethra).

This picture shows the kidneys and nearby tissues in a man.
This picture shows the kidneys and nearby tissues in a woman.

Your kidneys also make substances to help control blood pressure and to make red blood cells.

Attached to the top of each kidney is an adrenal gland. A layer of fatty tissue and an outer layer of fibrous tissue surround the kidney and adrenal gland.

This picture shows the kidney and adrenal gland.


Glossary Terms

abdomen (AB-doh-men)
The area of the body that contains the pancreas, stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder, and other organs.
adrenal gland (uh-DREE-nul...)
A small gland that makes steroid hormones, adrenaline, and noradrenaline. These hormones help control heart rate, blood pressure, and other important body functions. There are two adrenal glands, one on top of each kidney. Also called suprarenal gland.
fibrous (FY-brus)
Containing or resembling fibers.
organ (OR-gun)
A part of the body that performs a specific function. For example, the heart is an organ.
red blood cell (red blud sel)
A cell that carries oxygen to all parts of the body. Also called erythrocyte and RBC.
renal pelvis (REE-nul PEL-vus)
The area at the center of the kidney. Urine collects here and is funneled into the ureter, the tube that connects the kidney to the bladder.
tissue (TIH-shoo)
A group or layer of cells that work together to perform a specific function.
ureter (YER-eh-ter)
The tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder.
urethra (yoo-REE-thruh)
The tube through which urine leaves the body. It empties urine from the bladder.
urinary tract (YOOR-ih-NAYR-ee trakt)
The organs of the body that produce and discharge urine. These include the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.
urine (YOOR-in)
Fluid containing water and waste products. Urine is made by the kidneys, stored in the bladder, and leaves the body through the urethra.