Everybody can live with one kidney. Then why do a human body has two kidneys? Should we sell out one of our kidneys and buy an iPhone? Read the article to get your answer.
The kidney, a bean-shaped dark red organ, has a significant function of excretion, the removal of waste products from the body. Although the human body has two kidneys to remove waste products through urination, a single kidney is efficient enough to perform the whole function. Similarly, some people, suffering from renal agenesis, live with only one kidney throughout their life as they are born with a single kidney. Moreover, people often donate one of their kidneys to a patient with uremia (renal cancer). Hence, living with one kidney does not make anyone impair. However, people having one kidney have to be very precautious because they are more prone to sickness.
As the kidney removes all extra wastes and fluids from the body, it filters the blood, about 180 litres every day, and forms urine in three steps: pressure filtration, reabsorption, and secretion. According to research, the human kidney is adapted to conserve over 99.5 per cent of water, glucose, amino acids, and ions via reabsorption. Hence, in an excessive supply of water, reabsorption is reduced, and more dilute urine is produced. Likewise, in a restrictive supply of water, there is more reabsorption, resulting in concentrated urine. Consequently, the production of varied concentrations of urine on the availability of water exhibits that kidney function as an osmoregulatory organ, along with its excretory role, maintaining balanced electrolyte level.
Additionally, the kidney secretes important compounds: Erythropoietin, controlling the production of red blood cells; Renin, managing the expansion of arteries and lymph vessels; and calcitriol, increasing the amount of vitamin D and calcium. That’s why, in people with impaired kidney function, there is often low blood calcium and inadequate amount of Vitamin D, resulting in muscle weakness and a softening of the bones. Besides, kidneys also help the liver in keeping a stable pH within the body.
Therefore, with one kidney, there is no backup, and the loss of function of a single kidney could lead to proteinuria, fluid retention, or severe health complications earlier.
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About Iqra Ali, the Facts Explorer:
Iqra Ali has been Pakistan’s youngest facts explorer. Unfortunately, social media bloggers and vloggers promote low-quality products and brands just for PR packages; she researches and explores different niches: travel, fashion, technology, food, spices, clothing, cosmetics, etc., and explains them into facts to help her readers decide the best. Besides being a professional portrait and wedding photographer, she has covered many weddings in Punjab and portrayed many famous personalities on demand. She has been recognised among thousands of her readers because of her unique writing style and honest reviews, making her readers smile, be well-informed, and lively. If you are also interested in knowing the most amazing, unique, and striking facts about Pakistan and the world, follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn to keep yourself updated about the happenings around you.
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