1
What are my kidneys and what do
they do?
You have two kidneys. The kidneys are shaped like
beans. Each kidney is about the size of a fist. They
are located just below your ribcage, one on each
side of your spine. Your kidneys filter your blood.
Each kidney is made of 1 million little filters.
During every minute of every day, these filters
take out waste materials that can hurt you. They
also take out extra fluid from your blood. The
wastes and extra fluid make urine. The urine flows
from your kidneys to your bladder through tubes
called ureters*. The bladder stores urine until you
urinate. Then, urine leaves the body through a
tube called the urethra.
*See the Pronunciation Guide for tips on how to
say the words in bold type.
What I need to know about Kidney Failure and How It’s Treated
