Kidney Anatomy and Function

The function of the kidney is to help the body pass waste as urine. Kidneys also help filter blood before sending it back to the heart.

The kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped, brown organs about the size of your fist. They are covered by the renal capsule, which is a tough capsule of fibrous connective tissue. The renal cortex is a space between the medulla and the outer capsule. The renal medulla contains the majority of the length of nephrons, the main functional component of the kidney that filters fluid from blood.

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