US Medical Term · anatomy
Kidney
Riñón
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Kidney |
| Spanish (Español) | Riñón |
| Chinese (中文) | 腎臟 |
| Korean (한국어) | 신장 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Thận |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Bato (kidney) |
| Portuguese (Português) | Rim |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | ไต |
| Japanese (日本語) | 腎臓 |
What it means
The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist, located on either side of your spine just below your rib cage. Their main job is to filter your blood, removing waste products and excess fluid that become urine. They also regulate blood pressure, control the balance of electrolytes like sodium and potassium, and produce a hormone that tells the body to make red blood cells. Common kidney problems include kidney stones, infections, and chronic kidney disease. Blood and urine tests are used to check how well your kidneys are working. Your doctor may order an ultrasound or CT scan to look at the kidneys.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
I have pain in my lower back on both sides — could it be my kidneys?
Tengo dolor en la parte baja de la espalda de ambos lados — ¿podrían ser los riñones?
My lab results showed my kidneys are not filtering blood as well as they should.
Los resultados de laboratorio mostraron que los riñones no filtran la sangre tan bien como deberían.
The doctor said I may have a kidney stone causing the pain.
El médico dijo que puedo tener un cálculo renal que está causando el dolor.
Where you'll see it
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Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026