Kidneys are a critical part of your health. They “clean” your blood by removing wastes from the body through your urine, help your body to make red blood cells, and regulate blood pressure. One of the main jobs of the kidneys is to remove wastes from the blood and return the cleaned blood back to the body.
Prev. Next. The kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs on either side of your spine, below your ribs and behind your belly. Each kidney is about 4 or 5 inches long, roughly the size of a large fist. The kidneys’ job is to filter your blood. They remove wastes, control the body’s fluid balance, and keep the right levels of electrolytes.
How does blood flow through my kidneys? The kidneys are two bean-shaped each about the size of a fist. They are located just below the rib cage, one on each side of your spine. Healthy kidneys filter about a half cup of blood every minute, removing wastes and extra water to make urine.