IntermediatePart of the Urinary
Kidneys
Renes
Paired filtration organs that balance fluids, electrolytes, blood pressure, and waste removal.
Explore in 3D
In short
Nephrons fine-tune the chemistry of the bloodstream.
They reclaim almost everything they filter — only about 1–2 L leaves the body as urine.
Key facts
- Size
- Each is about a computer mouse
- Weight
- 120–170 g each
- Location
- Either side of the spine below the ribs
- Blood supply
- Renal arteries
- Function
- Filters blood and forms urine
- Daily
- Filters roughly 180 L of fluid
- Tissue type
- Renal cortex
- Latin term
- Renes
Structures to know
6 labelled structures
Renal Cortex
Cortex renalis
Outer filtering layer
Open Renal Cortex in 3DRenal Medulla
Medulla renalis
Concentrates urine
Open Renal Medulla in 3DUreter
Ureter
Carries urine
Open Ureter in 3DRenal Pelvis
Pelvis renalis
Funnels urine into the ureter
Open Renal Pelvis in 3DRenal Artery
Arteria renalis
Delivers blood to be filtered
Open Renal Artery in 3DRenal Hilum
Hilum renale
The gateway for vessels and ureter
Open Renal Hilum in 3D
Numbers at rest
Typical adult values — not a diagnostic reference.
Clinical relevance
Nephrons fine-tune the chemistry of the bloodstream.
- Kidney stones
- Chronic kidney disease
- Urinary infection
- Glomerulonephritis
- Polycystic kidney disease
- Renal hypertension
- Acute kidney injury
- Nephrotic syndrome
Study material only — this is not medical advice or a diagnostic tool.
Study next
Reviewed 2026-08-18 · Structure names follow Terminologia Anatomica (TA2).