kidneys

Cultural  

1. A pair of organs, the principal parts of the excretory system, located above the waistline at the back of the abdominal cavity. The kidneys filter waste materials from the blood, excreting these wastes in the form of urine; they also regulate the amounts of water and other chemicals in body fluids.

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Example Sentences

The strains that circulate in Asia and Europe — where hantavirus is more common, and generally less deadly — attack the kidneys.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026

Hantavirus is a rare but potentially lethal family of viruses carried by rodents, with different forms attacking the lungs or kidneys.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 10, 2026

Old World hantaviruses, typically found in Europe and Asia, generally affect the kidneys.

From Salon • May 9, 2026

Creatine is naturally produced by the body in the liver, kidneys and pancreas using amino acids such as glycine, arginine and methionine.

From Science Daily • May 4, 2026

Grateful to be doing something in her presence, I tied on the apron, put the slimy kidneys in the sink, washed them, and prepared a pot for boiling.

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam