Where are the kidneys located?

Where are the kidneys located?

Have you ever wondered where your kidneys actually are? Or what the kidneys do? Is that pain in your back caused by your kidneys? Read on to find out more

So. What is the location of your kidneys?

Your kidneys are near the middle of your lower back, on either side of the spine, just below the rib cage.

They are higher up than most people think. The kidneys are protected from injury by a large layer of fat, along with your lower ribs and back muscles.

They are about the size of your palm: 12cm long, 6cm wide and 3cm deep. Each kidney weighs about 150g.

This diagram shows the location of the kidneys. The right kidney is slightly lower (and smaller), pushed down by the liver.

Are the kidneys the same size?

No. The left kidney is slightly bigger than the right one. The left side has average renal length of around 11.2 cm in size, whereas the right-side measures 10.9 cm.

How many kidneys do we have?

Most people are born with two kidneys, but around one in every 1000 people are born with just one. The good news is that you can still lead a healthy life with just one. One kidney alone can provide up to 75 per cent of normal kidney function.

Summary

We have described where are the kidneys located. We hope it has been helpful.

Other resources

Click here to learn 10 interesting and strange facts about the kidneys.
Where do you feel kidney pain?
Anatomy, structure and size of the kidney

Watch the videos below to learn more about the kidneys

Last Reviewed on 27 May 2024