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The renal system, also known as the urinary system, filters blood and produces urine as a waste product. The system has three main organs: the kidneys, ureters, and bladder: Kidneys: These two bean-shaped organs are located in the middle of the back, below the ribs. They remove waste products and medicines from the body, balance fluids, and regulate blood pressure. The kidneys also produce erythropoietin, which stimulates red blood cell production, and help with bone health by controlling calcium and phosphorus. Ureters: These muscular tubes connect the kidneys to the bladder. Bladder: This organ stores urine until pressure increases on its wall, triggering the micturition reflex, which allows the urine to flow through the urethra and out of the body.
The kidneys filter around 200 liters of fluid from the renal blood flow each day, removing toxins, metabolic waste products, and excess ions while keeping essential substances in the blood. The kidneys also regulate plasma osmolarity by controlling the amount of water, solutes, and electrolytes in the blood. The kidneys are covered in a unique lining called urothelium, a type of transitional epithelium that can flatten and distend.
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