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Your kidneys are located in the back of the stomach area (abdomen), one on each side of the spinal cord. The lower ribs protect the kidneys from injury. Each kidney is about the size of your fist.

  

Healthy functioning kidneys are important because they:

• Filter waste products and excess water out of the blood
  
  
• Make hormones that help regulate blood pressure and the production of red blood cells
  
  
• Control the balance of water, salt, and acid in the body