A kidney is one of the two bean-shaped organs in your body that filter waste from your blood and make urine. The word can also refer to the kidney of an animal used as food.
From Middle English “kidnei” or similar forms, of uncertain origin, possibly related to Old English words for “womb” or “loins”. The exact root is unclear, but it has long been tied to the body’s inner parts.
Before modern medicine, people thought organs like the kidneys and liver were centers of emotion or character. That’s why old writings talk about someone’s “reins” (kidneys) being tested. Today we know their real job is filtering, but the emotional meanings still echo in some languages.
Medical research on kidneys and renal disease has historically been conducted more on male bodies, with women’s symptoms and drug responses sometimes under-studied. This has contributed to gaps in diagnosis and treatment for women and gender-diverse people.
Use kidney-related terms in ways that acknowledge that symptoms, progression, and treatment can differ by sex and gender; avoid assuming a 'default male' body.
Women clinicians and researchers have helped document sex and gender differences in kidney disease, improving care guidelines and transplant ethics.
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