The kidneys are a pair of organs located in the back of the abdomen. Each kidney is about 10-12cm – about the size of a fist. The kidneys are essential organs, which filter the blood and control the amount of water and salts (electrolytes) in the body.
All the blood in our bodies passes through the kidneys several times a day. The kidneys remove wastes, control the body's fluid balance, and regulate the balance of electrolytes. As the kidneys filter blood, they create urine, which collects in the kidneys' pelvis which are funnel-shaped structures that drain down tubes called ureters to the bladder.
Each kidney contains around a million units called nephrons, each of which is a microscopic filter for blood. It's possible to lose as much as 90% of kidney function without experiencing any symptoms or problems.
Disorders of the kidney and ureter treated by Dr Timothy Nathan include: