03/02/2026
Where Are Your Kidneys and How Do They Work?
You have two kidneys, each about the size of a fist, located just below your rib cage on either side of your spine. Though small, they are extraordinarily sophisticated organs.
Inside each kidney are about one million microscopic filtering units called nephrons. These nephrons act like highly specialized filtration systems. Every minute, blood flows into the kidneys, waste is separated, and clean blood is returned to circulation.
In fact, your kidneys filter approximately 50 gallons of blood every single day.
But filtration is only part of the story. Follow us this month as we participate in Kidney Awareness Month to learn more about the kidneys.