Caption

Kidneys. Computer enhanced historical artwork of the human kidneys with their blood vessels and nerves. The kidneys are seen at centre right and centre left & each has an adrenal gland (brown) on it's tip. The bottom of the heart is visible at top right. The blue blood vessel which connects the kidneys & runs through the image is the vena cava, the main vein of the body. White nerve fibres running between each kidney are part of the autonomic nervous system. These nerves control the involuntary functions of the kidneys. The kidneys are responsible for filtering the blood & excreting fluid waste as urine. Drawing by the Italian anatomist, Paolo Mascagni (1755-1815).