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Where Are My Kidneys And Liver

What This Study Adds

THE ORGANS SONG (Brain, Heart, Lungs, Liver, Kidneys)
  • This realworld population of patients with Covid19 includes 20% of patients potentially excluded from clinical trials based on their renal or liver function.

  • Hepatoxicity and nephrotoxicity of remdesivir are mostly mild, and severe adverse events are limited.

  • Contraindications based on kidney and liver function should not be absolute if functions are monitored regularly.

Where Are The Kidneys And Liver Located

First, for a quick lesson in anatomy, we will look at where the liver and kidney are physically located in the human body. The liver is located just above the stomach and below the diaphragm in the upper right abdomen. The kidneys are located beneath the rib cage to both the right and left of the spine. As you probably know, you have one liver and two kidneys the liver is actually the largest gland in the body and about the size of an American football and the kidneys are bean shaped and each around the size of a fist.

Keep Slim To Help Your Kidneys

Being too heavy raises your blood pressure, which is bad for your kidneys. Try to keep yourself at a healthy weight by keeping active and not overeating.

Your body mass index is a helpful way of checking whether you’re a healthy weight. You can use the healthy weight calculator to work out your BMI.

Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, such as walking, cycling or swimming, every week.

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What Causes Cysts On The Liver And Kidneys

A cyst is a sac like structure that resembles like a membranous tissue containing fluid like substances inside which can grow anywhere in the body or skin. A cyst is a bump on the skin or a lump under the skin, but in some cases like kidneys and liver, it is located internally. Polycystic kidney disease causes the cyst to form in the kidneys that can adversely affect kidney functions. On the other side, a cyst in the liver leads to the fluid-filled sacs throughout the organ. What Causes Cysts on the Liver and Kidneys?

There are many causes that can cause a cyst in the liver and kidneys. In the liver, most of the people inherit the condition but it can also occur without any genetic link. Women are more prone to this condition than man. Polycystic liver disease is most common in polycystic kidney disease. There are mainly three types of PKD:

  • Autosomal dominant PKD is common in adults and mainly happens to patients whose parents with PKD condition. What Causes Cysts on the Liver and Kidneys?
  • Autosomal recessive PKD is less common and mainly occur when both the parents have a gene for the disease.
  • Acquired cystic kidney disease is not inherited and occurs in middle or old age. It is common in people who already have one or the other kidney problem especially the one that has kidney failure or is on dialysis. What Causes Cysts on the Liver and Kidneys?

The symptoms of this condition are only visible in advanced stages. Some of the common visible signs are:

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Location Of The Liver

Where are the Kidneys and Liver Located?

In simplest terms, it can be said that the liver is located on the right side of the abdominal cavity, just below the diaphragm. In scientific terms, it is said to be located in the right upper quadrant of the abdominal cavity. The gallbladder is located to the exact back side of the liver in the human body. If one palpates properly and touches just below the right rib cage, one can feel the liver in the body. In other words, we can also say that the liver is located near the stomach, the spleen, the kidneys, and the intestines.

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Abdominal Cavity And Diaphragm:

Your body is divided into different cavities, two of them being the thoracic and abdominal cavities. Both these chambers lie on the ventral side of the body and are separated from each other through a membrane, called diaphragm. Lying superior to the abdominal cavity, the thoracic cavity is enclosed by the rib cage and gives protection to the heart and the lungs.

The ribs also enclose the upper part of the abdominal cavity. And it is this region where the liver lies in both the males and females.

Functions Of The Liver

The liver regulates most chemical levels in the blood and excretes a product called bile. This helps carry away waste products from the liver. All the blood leaving the stomach and intestines passes through the liver. The liver processes this blood and breaks down, balances, and creates the nutrients and also metabolizes drugs into forms that are easier to use for the rest of the body or that are nontoxic. More than 500 vital functions have been identified with the liver. Some of the more well-known functions include the following:

  • Production of bile, which helps carry away waste and break down fats in the small intestine during digestion

  • Production of certain proteins for blood plasma

  • Production of cholesterol and special proteins to help carry fats through the body

  • Conversion of excess glucose into glycogen for storage and to balance and make glucose as needed

  • Regulation of blood levels of amino acids, which form the building blocks of proteins

  • Processing of hemoglobin for use of its iron content

  • Conversion of poisonous ammonia to urea

  • Clearing the blood of drugs and other poisonous substances

  • Regulating blood clotting

  • Resisting infections by making immune factors and removing bacteria from the bloodstream

  • Clearance of bilirubin, also from red blood cells. If there is an accumulation of bilirubin, the skin and eyes turn yellow.

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Monitor Weight And Eat A Healthy Diet

People who are overweight or obese are at risk for a number of health conditions that can damage the kidneys. These include diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease.

A healthy diet thats low in sodium, processed meats, and other kidney-damaging foods may help reduce the risk of kidney damage. Focus on eating fresh ingredients that are naturally low-sodium, such as cauliflower, blueberries, fish, whole grains, and more.

Where Are Your Kidneys And Liver Located

Liver, Kidneys, Pancreas

In addition to understanding where are your kidneys and liver located, youll get answer to the questions, like:

  • Do both the kidneys like at the equal level?
  • How close are the liver and kidneys in your body?
  • Which is higher in position, the kidney or the liver?
  • How many types of filtration plants does your body have?
  • How are the kidneys and the liver related to each other?
  • If related to each other, why dont they make a part of the same organ system?

Understanding the location of the kidneys and liver in the body can help you trace the origin of pain in your body. For example, based on this information, you can easily find out if you are suffering from a kidney disease or not. Similarly, it will help in the diagnosis of a liver condition.

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Kidney Excretion Of Toxins

The kidney excretes toxins through essentially 3 mechanisms: filtration through the glomeruli passive diffusion, typically from the distal tubules and active processes where the toxins are transported from the blood as well as into the urine. Note also in : Some molecules are reabsorbed after being filtered by the glomeruli. This is a normal, controlled process by which the kidney maintains blood levels of key molecules within a narrow range.

Kidney Excretion of Toxins

Excretion = Filtration Reabsorption + Secretion

Basically, the glomeruli filter out of the blood almost all of the small- and medium-sized water-soluble molecules. Some are then reabsorbed, such as sodium, to ensure stable levels, blood volume, and other factors. In the proximal tubules are several active, energy-dependent processes such as organic anion transporters , organic anion transporting polypeptides , organic cation transporters , multidrug resistance-associated protein , multidrug resistance protein , and multidrug and toxic compound extrusion that transport specific toxins out of the blood and, hopefully, into the urine. Finally, there is passive diffusion of the more fat soluble toxins across the tubules into the urine. These later process are quite slow but may be important for some toxins.

Kidney Pain Vs Back Pain

Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish between kidney pain and back pain. Some muscular problems in the back or other diseases can mimic kidney pain. Dr. Davis goes on to explain that pain that comes from your kidneys is usually accompanied by other symptoms. For example, you may notice changes in your urination or you may have a fever.3

Usually, back pain is distinguished from kidney pain because it may get better or worse when moving the back muscles. Unlike kidney stone pain which comes on in sharp, painful waves, back pain is more constant and connected with movement.

In general, flank or kidney pain is usually higher in the back just under the ribs and the pain sensation is deeper. Back pain that is muscular is usually in the lower back.

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Where Is Your Liver Located And What Causes Liver Pain

Jenny Hills, Nutritionist and Medical Writer Health

Your liver is located on the right side of your body in the upper right abdomen below your ribcage. The liver is one of the largest internal organs in your body and its main function is to filter blood and remove toxins. Your liver also plays an important role in your digestive system. Liver pain can be felt in the upper right abdomen or on the middle of the back and it can be caused by disease or infection that makes the liver swell.

This article looks at the important functions that the liver has in the body. You will also learn about the main causes of liver pain and the side your liver is on. Knowing what causes pain in the liver can help you make positive lifestyle choices to protect the health of your liver. At the end of the article, you will find out great natural remedies to strengthen your liver.

Kidney Disease From Hep C Treatment

How to Remove Toxins From Your Liver, Kidneys, and Bladder ...

In a nutshell, treat the cause. In those found to have severe kidney damage which could be causally linked to hepatitis C, the treatment should focus on treating hepatitis C. However, it’s not always that straightforward. Not every patient with hepatitis C is necessarily a candidate for treatment since response rates vary and the side effects of therapy have to be kept in mind.

Certain patients could already be past the point of no return when it comes to both salvaging liver or kidney function. Kidneys don’t especially have much of a regenerative capacity. So if severe scarring has already occurred in the kidneys, it’s unlikely that the patient would recover kidney function even with treatment of hepatitis C. Regardless, there could be perfectly valid reasons , to still treat hepatitis C.

An important point to remember is that the presence of kidney disease itself changes treatment choices for hepatitis C as well. This is because therapy is often different based on the level of kidney damage. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best treatment path for you.

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When To See A Doctor For Kidney Pain

Kidney pain that you feel in your middle back or that radiates to your abdomen or groin is usually an indicator of a serious health condition.

According to Dr. Charles Patrick Davis, you should visit your doctor promptly if you suspect kidney pain. Some of the warning signs of kidney disease or problems are:

  • Sharp flank pain that comes on suddenly
  • A dull, constant one-sided pain in your back or side
  • Blood in your urine

The Kidney Dysfunction Epidemic Part : Causes

The kidney plays many important roles in maintaining health, ranging from activation of hormones to maintaining stable levels of key molecule in the blood to excretion of toxins. Most consider the kidneys second only to the liver in importance for toxin elimination. However, considering that 20% to 25% of cardiac output goes through these tiny organs, allowing them to filter the blood a remarkable 60 times per day, a case could be made that they are actually more important than the liver for toxin elimination. They rid the body of unwanted products of metabolism such as ammonia, urea, uric acid, creatinine, end products of hemoglobin metabolism, and hormone metabolites toxins that have been made water soluble by phase 2 in the liver and direct excretion of industrial toxins, such as heavy metals and a number of new-to-nature molecules. They also excrete nutrients or food constituents when consumed in excess, such as salt, vitamin C, B vitamins, and others.

One of the big challenges for the kidneys is that although they are effective at removing many toxins from the blood, some are difficult to then excrete into the urine. This means they accumulate in the kidneys and as their concentration increases, they can cause disproportionate damage to the kidneys. Cadmium illustrates this problem well.

Deterioration in Kidney Function With Aging

Abbreviation: GFR, glomerular filtration rate.

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The Tubule Returns Needed Substances To Your Blood And Removes Wastes

A blood vessel runs alongside the tubule. As the filtered fluid moves along the tubule, the blood vessel reabsorbs almost all of the water, along with minerals and nutrients your body needs. The tubule helps remove excess acid from the blood. The remaining fluid and wastes in the tubule become urine.

Do They Work Together

Your Liver and Kidneys Are Good Enough, Put Down the Detox Tea

Yes, the liver and kidney work together in many ways, including waste removal, sodium regulation, calcium absorption and more. For detoxification and waste removal, the liver breaks down toxins into two substances: bile and urea. While bile is sent through the digestive tract, urea is transported through the bloodstream directly to the kidneys where it is then excreted from the body as urine along with other toxic waste.

The liver and kidney also work together with the adrenal glands in water and sodium regulation. High levels of salt in the blood can greatly hinder circulation. So, as the chain of commands go, when there is a reduction in blood flow the kidneys send an enzyme called renin to the liver, which assists the liver in producing a substance that is sent to the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are then cued to produce a hormone called aldosterone, which commands the kidneys to store salt and water.

In terms of calcium absorption, it all starts with the sun. When the sun hits your skin, its actually the liver that turns it into vitamin D. The vitamin D then travels through the bloodstream to the kidneys, where the kidneys turn it into calcitriol, a hormone that aids the intestines in absorbing calcium from food.

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Is Ibuprofen Bad For My Kidneys

While NSAIDs rarely affect the liver, they have important adverse effects on the kidneys that you should know about. Here is the science behind the problem.

Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs block prostaglandins, natural body chemicals that normally dilate blood vessels leading to the kidneys. Blocking prostaglandins may lead to decreased blood flow to the kidneys, which means a lack of oxygen to keep the kidneys alive. That can cause acute kidney injury.

Acute kidney injury can occur with any NSAID, though seems to be a bigger culprit. In one study, folks who took NSAIDs had twice the risk of acute kidney injury within 30 days of starting to take the medications. People with existing kidney problems more often get in trouble.

The good news is these effects are reversible if you stop taking NSAIDs.

Remember, acute kidney injury from NSAIDs doesnt cause any symptoms. if you are taking ibuprofen for long periods of time, its not a bad idea to have a check of your kidney function with a quick blood test. The test may show a rise in creatinine if your kidneys are being affected, usually seen within the first 3 to 7 days of NSAID therapy.

Difference Between Kidney And Liver

Key difference: Kidneys and Livers are the filtering and urinary systems of the body. Kidneys play an important role, in the excretion of waste and re-absorption of the ions, glucose and other vital substances of the body while the Liver is responsible for the detoxification and production of proteins and enzymes, required for the digestion of the body.

The Latin term renes is related to the English word reins, which is a synonym for the kidneys in Shakespearean English. The word renal refers to the kidneys.

Renal physiology is the study of kidney functions, whereas the Renal histology studies the structure of the kidney, which is viewed under a microscope. Various distinct cell types occur in the kidney, including:

  • Kidney glomerulus parietal cell
  • Interstitial kidney cells
  • Renal arteries and their branches

The Greek word hepar or hepat stands for liver.

Livers are reddish brown organs with four lobes of unequal size and shape. They are located in the upper right-hand portion of the abdominal cavity, beneath the diaphragm, and on top of the stomach, right kidney, and intestines. Lobules are the functional units of the liver. The two major types of cells populate the liver lobes: karat parenchymal and non-parenchymal cells. The human liver normally weighs 1.441.66 kg and is a soft, pinkish-brown, triangular organ. It is considered to be both, the largest internal organ as well as the largest gland.

Comparison between Kidney and Liver:

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Where Is The Liver Located In The Female Body

If a female is feeling excruciating pain in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen, it might be due to liver disease. Understanding such a condition is one of the reasons why you should learn where is the liver located in the female body.

This irregularly shaped gland resides at the same place in both the genders. However, it may weigh differently in males and females. That is, the former usually has a heavier hepatic organ than the latter. Its weight in males ranges from 0.97 kg to 1.86 kg, whereas in females it varies from as low as 0.60 kg to as high as 1.77 kg in mass.

The variation of liver mass across genders may definitely affect the size of the organ. And the size is something that you define in terms of the measure of the dimensions. As dimensions vary, the location of the liver would slightly change in human males and females.

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