kidney

kid·ney

noun \ˈkid-nē\

plural kidneys

Definition of KIDNEY

1

a : one of a pair of vertebrate organs situated in the body cavity near the spinal column that excrete waste products of metabolism, in humans are bean-shaped organs about 4¹⁄₂ inches (11¹⁄₂ centimeters) long lying behind the peritoneum in a mass of fatty tissue, and consist chiefly of nephrons by which urine is secreted, collected, and discharged into a main cavity whence it is conveyed by the ureter to the bladder

b : any of various excretory organs of invertebrate animals

2

: the kidney of an animal eaten as food

3

: sort or kind especially with regard to temperament <a nice helpful guy, of a different kidney entirely from the … Secret Police — Paula Lecler>

Examples of KIDNEY

1. a patient with a damaged kidney
2. <her new boyfriend is of a different kidney than what she usually dates>

Origin of KIDNEY

Middle English

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to KIDNEY

Synonyms

breed, class, description, feather, genre, ilk, sort, kind, like, manner, nature, order, species, strain, stripe, type, variety

Related Words

model; sample, specimen; bracket, bunch, category, division, family, grade, group, grouping, lot, persuasion, rank(s), set, suite

Rhymes with KIDNEY

Sidney, Sydney

kid·ney

noun \ˈkid-nē\   (Medical Dictionary)

plural kidneys

Medical Definition of KIDNEY

1

: one of a pair of vertebrate organs situated in the body cavity near the spinal column that excrete waste products of metabolism, in humans are bean-shaped organs about 4¹⁄₂ inches (11¹⁄₂ centimeters) long lying behind the peritoneum in a mass of fatty tissue, and consist chiefly of nephrons by which urine is secreted, collected, and discharged into the pelvis of the kidney whence it is conveyed by the ureter to the bladder—compare mesonephros, metanephros, pronephros

2

: any of various excretory organs of invertebrate animals

Illustration of KIDNEY

kidney

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Cross section of a kidney. The kidney is made up of an outermost cortex, a middle medulla, and an …—© Merriam-Webster Inc.

One of a pair of organs that maintain water balance and expel metabolic wastes. Human kidneys are bean-shaped organs about 4 in. (10 cm) long, in the small of the back. They filter the entire 5-quart (about 4.5-liter) water content of the blood every 45 minutes. Glucose, minerals, and needed water are returned to the blood by reabsorption. The remaining fluid and wastes pass into collecting ducts, flowing to the ureter and bladder as urine. Each kidney has over 1 million functional units (nephrons) involved in the process of filtration and reabsorption. The kidneys also secrete renin, an enzyme involved in blood pressure regulation. Disorders include kidney failure, kidney stones, and nephritis. See also urinary system.