Word parts
What it means
The kidneys sit on either side of the spine below the ribs. Each has about a million filtering units (nephrons). They remove wastes such as ureayoo-REE-uhA waste product the liver makes when it breaks down protein, which the kidneys remove in urine.ur/o urineFull entry and creatininekree-AT-uh-neenA waste product of muscle that the kidneys remove from the blood; its blood level is used to measure how well the kidneys work.Full entry , balance water, sodiumSOH-dee-umA mineral in the blood that controls how water moves in the body and helps nerves and muscles work.Full entry , potassiumpuh-TAS-ee-umA mineral in the blood that nerves and muscles, including the heart, need in order to work.Full entry and acid, help control blood pressure, make a hormone (erythropoietin) that drives red blood cell production, and activate vitamin D. Kidney function is tested with creatinine, BUN and eGFR.
For the nurse
Many drugs are cleared by the kidneys or can harm them, as can IV contrast dye. Watch urine output (at least about 0.5 mL/kg an hour, roughly 30 mL an hour in an adult) and kidney labs.
At a glance
| Spanish | riñón |
|---|---|
| Also written | kidneys, kidney's |
Related terms
chronic kidney disease
Kidney damage or reduced kidney function that lasts longer than three months.
dialysis
A treatment that removes wastes and extra fluid from the blood when the kidneys can no longer do it.
renal
Relating to the kidneys.
creatinine
A waste product of muscle that the kidneys remove from the blood; its blood level is used to measure how well the kidneys work.
nephr/o
A word root that means kidney.