Kidneys are not our most glamorous organs, often taking a back seat in the news to the brain or the heart. Probably the only time we think about our kidneys is when we joke about selling one to afford the newest Apple gadget.
But the two bean-shaped, fist-sized kidneys sitting at the base of the rib cage are fascinating, multitasking organs. They are at work all day long removing waste, stimulating red blood cell production and keeping the body’s balance of salts, acids and bases in check.
Kidneys are also quite resilient. Even if you lose or donate one kidney, you can continue to live a normal, healthy life with the other. But most of us don’t understand this complex organ very well, giving birth to misconceptions about how our kidneys work and what ails them. Here are the top five myths about human kidneys.
Read more: Top Five Myths About Human Kidneys | Science | Smithsonian
