We are born with two kidneys. People with kidney problems often experience pain in the lower back. This is because the kidneys are located just below the ribs around the middle of the back. The bean-shaped kidneys remove excess liquid and waste from the blood, which are then converted to urine. The kidneys also help keep salts and other substances well-balanced in the bloodstream, as well as produce a hormone that helps red blood cells form.
Two narrow tubes connect the kidneys to the bladder. These tubes, called the ureters, carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder. The bladder, located behind the pelvic bone, stores urine until removed from the body through the urethra.
In women, urinary tract infections, or bladder infections, are the most frequently occurring condition of the urinary tract system.
Source:
Urinary Tract Infections In Adults. NIDDK. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/Kudiseases/pubs/utiadult. Accessed 04/06/10.
