The kidneys are bean-shaped excretory organs in vertebrates. Part of the urinary system, the kidneys filter wastes (especially urea) from the blood and excrete them, along with water, as urine. The medical field that studies the kidneys and diseases affecting the kidney is called nephrology, from the Greek name for the kidney; the adjective meaning "kidney-related" is renal, from the Latin.
In humans, the kidneys are located in the posterior part of the abdomen. There is one on each side of the spine; the right kidney sits just below the liver, the left below the diaphragm and adjacent to the spleen. Above each kidney is an adrenal gland (also called the suprarenal gland). The asymmetry within the abdominal cavity caused by the liver results in the right kidney to be slightly lower than the left one.
The kidneys are retroperitoneal, which means they lie behind the peritoneum, the lining of the abdominal cavity. They are approximately at the vertebral level T12 to L3, and the right kidney usually lies slightly lower than the left in order to accommodate the liver. The upper parts of the kidneys are partially protected by the eleventh and twelfth ribs, and each whole kidney is surrounded by two layers of fat (the perirenal fat and the pararenal fat) which help to cushion it. In very rare cases, it is possible to have developed three kidneys.
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Culinary Kidney Cooks - Offers a sample renal recipe, from the dialysis diet cookbook Cooking for David and also gives a holiday meal plan with chart.
Meta Description: [ A new 160 recipe culinary cookbook for dialysis patients. Free dialysis recipes and free helpful dialysis diet tips of the week. ]
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Renal Recipes - A variety of pork, beef, chicken, lamb, fish, salad, and bread recipes for people on a renal diet.
Renal Recipes - A list of informative pages for renal patients with holiday and special meal recipes.
Sodium and Renal Diet - Articles on nutrition and recipes for those with renal problems.
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