Kidneys produce urine → ureters transport it → urinary bladder stores it → urethra carries it out.
Kidneys regulate fluid/electrolyte and acid-base balance, remove metabolic wastes, participate in blood-pressure regulation and produce hormones/signals involved in red blood cell production and vitamin D activation.
The nephron is the functional unit. Filtration begins at the renal corpuscle; tubular reabsorption and secretion modify filtrate into urine.
Kidneys adjust water, sodium, potassium and other solutes under hormonal and physiological control. “Massage flushes toxins through the kidneys” is not an accurate explanation of massage physiology.
Known renal disease, edema, dialysis access, fluid restrictions or acute urinary infection can alter treatment planning. Do not aggressively pound the kidney region.
Be able to identify the major structures, state their functions, connect the system to relevant pathology and explain how the information changes massage safety or treatment planning.