Category Zoology

If the kidneys become damaged or diseased, a dialysis machine can be used to filter the blood instead. This large machine takes up to four times longer than kidneys to clean the body’s blood – which shows what an efficient unit the kidneys are.

The dialysis machine acts as an artificial set of kidneys. Blood flows from the body to the machine, toxic waste and excess fluid are removed, and cleaned blood is returned.

Some kinds of acute kidney failure get better after treatment. In some cases of acute kidney failure, dialysis may only be needed for a short time until the kidneys get better.

In chronic or end stage kidney failure, your kidneys do not get better and you will need dialysis for the rest of your life. If your doctor says you are a candidate, you may choose to be placed on a waiting list for a new kidney.

In hemodialysis, an artificial kidney (hemodialyzer) is used to remove waste and extra chemicals and fluid from your blood. To get your blood into the artificial kidney, the doctor needs to make an access (entrance) into your blood vessels. This is done by minor surgery to your arm or leg.

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Each kidney has three layers – the outer layer (cortex), inner part (medulla), and central pelvis. Blood flows into the cortex for filtering. The medulla absorbs substances to return to the bloodstream. Waste is taken by tubes to the central pelvis, a collecting area where urine is emptied out into two tubes called ureters, and then passes to the bladder.

Multi-purpose organs

The two kidneys sit high in the back the abdomen. Each one is about the size of a fist, shaped like a bean, and surrounded by a protective layer of tissue.

Adrenal gland

The adrenal glands are small glands located on top of each kidney. They produce hormones that you can’t live without, including sex hormones and cortisol. Cortisol helps you respond to stress and has many other important functions. Adrenaline released from this gland makes the heart beat faster in scary situations.

Renal artery

The renal arteries are responsible for carrying oxygen-rich blood to your kidneys, which in turn help the kidneys rid your body of waste and excess fluid. This artery carries blood into the kidney to be filtered.

Renal vein

The renal vein is an asymmetrically paired vessel that carries the deoxygenated blood from the kidney to the inferior vena cava. Cleaned blood is carried from the kidney by the renal vein.

Outer casing

The kidneys and adrenal glands are wrapped in a layer of fat and strong outer tissue. The outermost layer is a tough connective tissue layer called the renal fascia.

Central pelvis

Urine collects here, and is then sent to the bladder. The pelvis, which is shaped somewhat like a funnel that is curved to one side, is almost completely enclosed in the deep indentation on the concave side of the kidney, the sinus.

Renal cortex

The cortex is the outer part of the kidney. It contains the glomerulus and convoluted tubules.

The renal cortex is surrounded on its outer edges by the renal capsule, a layer of fatty tissue. Together, the renal cortex and capsule house and protect the inner structures of the kidney.

Renal medulla

This layer of the kidney absorbs water, making urine more concentrated. The renal medulla is split up into a number of sections, known as the renal pyramids. Blood enters into the kidney via the renal artery, which then splits up to form the interlobar arteries.

Left ureter

This is one of two tubes that carry urine down to the bladder. There are two ureters, one attached to each kidney. The upper half of the ureter is located in the abdomen and the lower half is located in the pelvic area. 

Nephrons

The kidneys contain tiny blood-filtering units called nephrons. Each nephron contains a glomerulus, a bundle of blood vessels surrounded by a capsule. As blood passes through the glomerulus, waste and excess water ooze into the capsule and are carried away by a tubule (tiny tube). Any useful substances, such as glucose, are absorbed by capillaries, while the waste is carried away to form urine.

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Your two kidneys filter and clean the blood by removing toxic chemicals like the heart, the kidneys are at work every second of every day, producing a continuous flow of clean blood.

As blood circulates it picks up waste substances produced by the body’s cells. These would poison you if they were not removed from the body. The kidneys extract the toxins and excess water from the blood and process them to make urine. As well as cleaning the blood, the kidneys also release hormones, stimulate red blood cell production and keep the body’s water content balanced.

They release more urine if you have drunk a lot and less if you are dehydrated.

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The iliac crest of the male pelvis rises higher than the iliac crest of the female pelvis, and there is a greater distance between the anterior superior iliac spines of the female pelvis when compared to the male pelvis. This usually gives women a curvier appearance in the hip region, as compared to the average male. The female pelvic cavity is also going to be shallower, whereas the male pelvic cavity is deeper.

Although the female pelvis is wider than the typical male pelvis, these bones are thinner and lighter than the denser, rougher bones of the male pelvis.

The pelvic brim of the female is generally larger than the male’s inlet, which facilitates childbirth. The male inlet is smaller and heart-shaped, and a trick to remembering that is to remember the following phrase: the way to a man’s heart is through his pelvis!

The sacrum of the female is shorter, wider, and has a greater curve, whereas the male sacrum is thinner, longer, and is less curved. The coccyx bone of the male curves more toward the front of the body in comparison to the female’s coccyx.

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Pelvic girdle

The pelvis is made up of two hip bones, one on each side. Each hip bone has three parts – the ilium, ischium, and pubis. They connect to the sacrum – the lower  part of the spine – to form a ring like shape, called the pelvic girdle.

Spine

The spine, or backbone is a column of bones that runs from the pelvis to the neck. The spine is classified into 4 distinct areas.

The cervical area consists of 7 bony parts in the neck. The thoracic spine consists of 12 bony parts in the back area. The lumbar spine consists of 5 bony segments in the lower back area; 5 sacral* bones; and 4 coccygeal* bones (the number of coccygeal bones can vary from 3 to 5). (* By adulthood, the 5 sacral vertebrae fuse to form 1 bone, and the 4 coccygeal vertebrae fuse to form 1 bone.)

Sacrum

At the base of the spine, this triangular-shaped bone connects the two hip bones. It consists of the last four or five vertebrae that by adulthood, fuse together to form a single bone. Located just above the coccyx and wedged between the right and left iliac bones (hip bones), the sacrum forms the back wall of the pelvis. The coccyx, commonly referred to as the tailbone, is the very bottom segment of the vertebral column. The right and left iliac bones are joined together in the front by the symphysis pubis.

Ilium

The largest bone in the pelvis is the ilium, or hip bone. One on each side connects the muscles used to stand and walk. The body of the ilium forms the superior part of the acetabulum (acetabular roof). Immediately above the acetabulum, the ilium expands to form the wing (or ala).

Fixed joint

These bones are held firmly together by strong ligaments. The relatively fixed joint between the sacrum and the lumbar spine is ideal for bearing the load of the upper body. At the most ventral area of the pelvis, there is a fibrocartilaginous joint in the pubic symphysis.

Pelvic cavity

The pelvic cavity is formed by three bilateral pairs of bones (pubis, ilium and ischium) and two posteriorly located bones (sacrum and coccyx). The intestines and bladder are contained here, surrounded by the protective pelvis.

Pubis

The pubis is one of the two smallest bones in the pelvis. In vertebrates, the pubic bone is the most forward-facing (ventral and anterior) of the three main bones making up the pelvis. The left and right pubic bones are each made up of three sections, a superior ramus, inferior ramus, and a body.

Pubic symphysis

This strong cartilage joint connects the two pubis bones together. It is located in front of and below the urinary bladder. In males, the suspensory ligament of the penis attaches to the pubic symphysis.

Coccyx

Below the sacrum is the Coccyx, or tailbone all that remains of the tail of our distant ancestors. Although the tailbone is considered vestigial (or no longer necessary) in the human body, it does have some function in the pelvis. For instance, the coccyx is one part of a three-part support for a person in the seated position. Weight is distributed between the bottom portions of the two hip bones (or ischium) and the tailbone, providing balance and stability when a person is seated.

Hip joint

The ball shaped top of the thighbone sits in this hollow creating the ball and socket hip joint. The adult os coxae, or hip bone, is formed by the fusion of the ilium, the ischium, and the pubis, which occurs by the end of the teenage years. The 2 hip bones form the bony pelvis, along with the sacrum and the coccyx, and are united anteriorly by the pubic symphysis.

Ischium

The lowest bone in the pelvis the ischium carries all the weight when the body is sitting down. Situated below the ilium and behind the pubis, it is one of these three bones whose fusion creates the hip. The superior portion of this bone forms approximately one third of the acetabulum.

Holes

Small holes in the bones are for nerves and blood vessels.

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The pelvis is a large bowl-shaped group of bones at the base of the abdomen. This section of the skeleton is made up of several bones fused and linked together. It surrounds and protects the soft organs inside the lower abdomen. The pelvis has many functions. It supports the intestines and bladder and the space in the middle allows waste from the intestines and bladder to leave the body In women, the pelvis supports the uterus as it expands to hold a growing baby and also provides the baby’s route out of the body during childbirth. Many muscles in the back, abdomen, and legs are anchored to the pelvis, helping to keep the body upright. The pelvis allows us to stand walk, and run without falling over.

The muscles of the pelvic floor wrap around and control the opening of your bladder and rectum. When there is an increase in abdominal pressure (for example when you cough, sneeze, laugh or jump), these muscles contract around your urethra and anus to prevent leakage. Equally as important, these muscles have to relax and lengthen to allow us to urinate or have bowel movements easily.  

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