Facts about the Kidneys
- 09
Potassium levels in blood must stay between 3.5 and 5.0 millimoles per liter, a range the kidneys maintain by adjusting how much potassium they excrete in urine daily.
- 08
Adults lose approximately 1 percent of kidney function each year after age 30, yet maintain adequate filtration capacity throughout life due to functional reserve.
- 07
Transplanted kidneys from living donors have a 95% success rate at five years, compared to 90% for deceased donor kidneys.
- 06
Urine production increases by approximately 25% when exposed to cold temperatures, as the kidneys reduce water reabsorption in response to decreased core body temperature.
- 05
Kidneys regulate blood pressure by producing renin, a hormone that activates the angiotensin-aldosterone system when sodium levels drop below 135 millimoles per liter.
- 04
Blood pressure in the kidney's glomerulus measures approximately 60 millimeters of mercury, creating the filtration force necessary to separate waste from useful substances.
- 03
Only 10-15% of kidney function is needed to maintain life, which is why people can donate one kidney and live normally.
- 02
Approximately 1 million nephrons per kidney filter waste and regulate electrolytes, with each nephron containing a glomerulus that processes blood at a rate of 125 milliliters per minute.
- 01
Each of your kidneys filters approximately 120-150 quarts of blood daily to produce about 1-2 quarts of urine.