VISITING HYPERWERK FOR INSPIRATION

WEBSITE CONCEPT

Webseite

Die Webpage dient als Plattform

für die Studenten, um ihre Semes-

ter- bzw. Masterarbeiten präsen-

tieren zu können. Sie soll auch als

Repräsentation des Masterstudios

dienen. Durch die Webpage können

Informationen nach außen getragen

werden – auch längerfristig gesehen

außerhalb des Rahmens, den die

Mailänder Messe vorgibt.

Masterstudio Design

www.everybodyis.com

Project

Masterstudio

Contact

Links

MASTERSTUDIO DESIGN

everybody is a liver

Communication Design

Product Design

Fashion Design

Interior Design

Fine Arts

Process Design

BOOKLET CONCEPT

Broschüre zur

Ausstellung

Die Broschüre befindet sich in einem

Schuber, auf dem eines der Organe

ausgestanzt ist. Diese soll es auch

in den sechs Variationen geben. Der

Inhalt der Broschüre gliedert sich in

Informationen zur Ausstellung, einer

kurzen Erklärung zum Masterstudio

als Studiengang und dem Vorstellen

der Studenten. Jeder Student hat

eine Doppelseite zur Verfügung, auf

der er sich selbst und seine Arbeits-

weise anhand einer Arbeit über das

Organ seiner Disziplin präsentieren

kann.

STICKER

Die Sticker dienen in erster Linie als

Werbemittel im Vorfeld der Messe.

Sie sollen großflächig in Mailand

verteilt werden, mit dem Ziel darauf

aufmerksam zu machen, dass das

Masterstudio auf der Zona Tortona

vertreten ist. Auch die Sticker gibt es

in den sechs Varianten der Organe. Sticker

T-SHIRTS

how we could look like on the fair..

PLASTIC BAGS

Yellow plastic bags as part of our graphic concept

ADVERTISING CONCEPT DURING MILAN FURNITURE FAIR

Vor dem Raum

Vor dem Raum soll sich eine Art

Kleiderstange befinden, auf der

die gelben FHNW-Plastiksäckchen

für den Besucher bereit stehen. In

den Säkchchen befinden sich eine

Broschüre zur Ausstellung, sowie die

Sticker. Gedacht ist, dass sich jeder

Besucher diese praktischen Taschen

selbst mitnehmen kann.

Die FHNW-Plastiksäckchen sind

auf einer Seite mit dem Everybody

is-Logo und der Adresse der Web-

page bedruckt. Es soll diese in sechs

verschiedenen Varianten geben.

Weiters werden wir als Klasse auf

der Messe vertreten sein. Jeder Stu-

dent soll das T-Shirt mit dem passen-

den Organ zur Designdisziplin tragen

und für Fragen und Informationen zur

Verfügung stehen.

DARMANWENDUNGEN / HOW TO USE AN INTESTINE

testing the prototype...

SHOPPING

Leah and Natalia go OBI

INTESTINE INSPIRATIONS

IM DICKDARM LEBEN AN DIE 400

BAKTERIENARTEN, DAS SIND CA.

100 BILLIONEN BAKTERIEN ODER

1,5 KG BAKTERIEN.

DER DÜNNDARM HAT EINE LÄN-

GE VON 5-6 METERN.

- das Gegessene wird weiter in den

Dünndarm befördert

- der Dünndarm ist 5-6 Meter lang,

der Dickdarm nur ca. 1 Meter

- der Dünndarm sondert das meiste

an Wasser von der Nahrung ab, das

an den Körper zurück gegeben wird

(ca. 9 Liter am Tag)

- der Dünndarm zerlegt den Nah-

rungsbrei weiter, dabei werden

Aminosäuren, Fettsäuren und

Kohlenhydrate von seiner Schleim-

haut aufgenommen und über das

Blut in den restlichen Körper frei

gegeben

- der Dickdarm bereitet die nicht

zur Nahrungsaufnahme geeigneten

Stoffe zur Ausscheidung vor

- es dauert 33-43 Stunden von der

Nahrungsaufnahme bis zur Aussche-

idung

im Dickdarm (“Darmflora”)

KIDNEY INSPIRATION

DIE NIERE IST DAS EINZIGE OR-

GAN, VON DEM WIR ZWEI STÜCK

BESITZEN, OBWOHL EINE NIERE

ALLEIN DIE VOLLE FUNKTION

ÜBERNEHMEN KANN.

DIE NIERE IST DIE KLÄRANLAGE

DES KÖRPERS.

- wird von 20% des Blutes im Körper

durchströmt (Herzzeitvolumen)

- ist die “Kläranlage” des Körpers

- reguliert den Blutdruck, Wasser-

und Salzhaushalte, Hormonproduk-

tion, pH-Wert im Blut

- 600 ml Blut erreichen jede Niere

täglich, diese wird von schädlichen

Substanzen gereinigt.

- in der Niere wird der Harn gebildet

- die Niere entzieht dem Harn vor der

Ausscheidung 99% des Wassers und

führt dieses in den Körper zurück

- “das geht mir an die Nieren”: Einen

Spruch den man verwendet, wenn

einem etwas sehr, sehr nahe geht

HEART INSPIRATIONS

DAS HERZ IST DER STÄRKSTE

MUSKEL DES KÖRPERS.

DAS HERZ IST DER HOCHLEIS-

TUNGSMOTOR DES BLUTKREIS-

LAUFES.

DAS HERZ SCHLÄGT JEDEN TAG

AN DIE 100.000 MAL, ARBEITET IM-

MER UND OHNE PAUSE.

- ein Hohlorgan (eigentlich nur ein

Muskel)

- rythmische Kontraktion pumpt das

Blut (sichert so die Durchblutung in

alle anderen Organe)

- funktioniert durch ansaugen und

ausstoßen

- Herz bei einem durchschnittlichen

Erwachsenen wiegt zwischen 300

und 350g

- schlägt jeden Tag ca. 100.000 Mal,

pumpt bis zu 10.000 Liter Blut pro

Tag

STOMACH INSPIRATIONS

DER MAGEN IST DAS EINZIGE

ORGAN, DAS GERÄUSCHE NACH

AUSSEN ABGIBT (GLUCKSEN UND

RUMOREN).

- “es schlägt mir auf den Magen”,

“Liebe geht durch den Magen”;

der Magen ist als Organ sehr präsent

außerhalb des Körpers, da wir ihn oft

spüren und sogar manchmal hören,

er trägt wesentlich zu unserem Wohl-

befinden bei

- die Magensäure reinigt das Geges-

sene von Krankheitserregern und

verdaut es weiter

LUNG INSPIRATIONS

WIR ATMEN TÄGLICH 2.000 MAL

EIN UND AUS.

DIE LUNGE UND IHR FEINBAU

SIND ÄUSSERST KOMPLEX.

ALS EINZIGES ORGAN IST DIE

LUNGE, SOLANGE DER FÖTUS

NOCH IN DER GEBÄRMUTTER IST,

NICHT ÜBERLEBENSNOTWENDIG.

- das Lungenvolumen eines Erwach-

senen trägt ca. 5-6 Liter

- wir haben einen rechten und einen

linken Lungenflügel, wobei sich der

rechte in 3 Lappen aufteilt, der linke

nur in 2

- bestückt mit 300-400 Alveolen;

beim Erwachsenen kommt das auf

eine Atmungsfläche von 10 Tischten-

nisplatten

- wir atmen täglich 2.000 Mal ein und

aus

- Bakterien, Schadstoffe, Staubpar-

tikel etc. gelangen durch die Einat-

mung in die Lunge und werden dort

gefiltert

LIVER INSPIRATIONS

DIE LEBER IST DAS EINZIGE

ORGAN, DAS DIE FÄHIGKEIT ZUR

REGENERATION HAT.

DIE LEBER ERFÜLLT UNHEIMLICH

VIELE FUNKTIONEN IM KÖRPER

UND VERBRAUCHT FÜR DIESE

ARBEIT ALLEIN 20 PROZENT DES

GESAMTEN KÖRPERSAUERSTOF-

FES.

- zuständig für Abbau stoffwechselei-

gener und - fremder Substanzen

- Entgiftung des Körpers, z.B. Abbau

oder Umwandlung in harmlose Stoffe

von Alkohol und Medikamenten

- reguliert zum Teil Immunsystem und

Hormone

- bei Ausfall der Leberfunktion: Gelb-

suchterkrankung

- Leber wird von 28% des Blutflusses

(Herzzeitvolumen) durchflossen und

verbraucht allein 20% des gesamten

Körpersauerstoffes

- pro Minute werden 1,5 Liter Blut

durch die Leber gepumpt

TEXT ANIMATION TEST

OUR STUDIO...

INTERACTION CONCEPT

Die Interaktion

- pulsierendes Licht

- Herztonrhythmus

- typografische Projektion an Wän-

den und Decke

- Herztonrhythmus

- typografische Projektion an Wänden und Decke

- in der „Auflösung“ verschwinden die

Textstränge, das pulsierende Licht

und der Herzrhythmuston steigern

sich und der Titel bzw. der „Absend-

er“ der Installation wird bekannt.

- ein Besucher setzt sich auf ein Or-

gan, ein Textstrang läuft an der Wand

entlang hoch an die Decke

- die Textstränge enthalten Stich-

wörter und Satzfragmente zum jew-

eiligen Organ und der zugeordneten

Designdisziplin

- sind alle Organe besetzt, ist die

Vernetzung der verschiedenen

Designdisziplinen komplett

:::

THE MODEL AND KING CLAUS

ORGAN LANDSCAPE

Sitzlandschaft

aus Organen

- jedes Organ hat einen eigenen

Charakter innerhalb der Sitzland-

schaft

- sie sind im Maßstab 1:10 gefertigt

und in ihrer natürlichen Position

im Körper proportional zueinander

arrangiert

- die Einzigartigkeit der Organe als

Sitzmöbel kommt durch die Materi-

alien und Füllungen zur Geltung

- der Besucher kann verschiedene

Oberflächen entdecken

ANIMATED TEXT DRAFTS

Textbeispiel

fashion design/

intestine

Fashion Design/ Intestine

HOCHLAUFENDER TEXT

the garments bear the buyer’s label//

fashion design// segment of the

alimentary canal// molding draping

wrapping// influences of a specific

time// intestine// look and fit// around

the earth a little over ten times// fit

of the toile// planned obsolescence//

five to six meters long// tissue fluid//

garments// italian fashion is consid-

ered the most important and elegant

in design// drape fabric on a dress

form// maintains the shape// intestine

RUNTERLAUFENDER TEXT

everybody is// fashion design// mas-

terstudio design// intestine// every-

body is// intestine// fashion design//

everybody is an intestine// everybody

is// everybody is a fashion designer//

everybody is a part of it// masterstu-

dio design//

GRAPHIC THOUGHTS

BLACK HEART

Fine Arts / Heart

HOCHLAUFENDER TEXT

deliberately arranging elements// two pumps for a total of four chambers// provocative// the biggest muscle of our body// dependent on general human experience// opinion-leading// heart pumps blood// never stops beating until we die// indirect means to communicate from one person to another// appealing to senses and emotions// fine arts// stimulating// becoming active// fine heart// referring to life// medium for self-expression and interpretation// wear your heart on your sleeve//

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RUNTERLAUFENDER TEXT

everybody is// fine arts// masterstudio design// heart// everybody is// artist// heart// everybody is a heart// everybody is// everybody is an artist// everybody is a part of it// masterstudio design//

Fine art

Art is the process or product of deliberately arranging elements in a way that appeals to the senses or emotions. It encompasses a diverse range of human activities, creations, and modes of expression, including music, literature, film, sculpture, and paintings. The meaning of art is explored in a branch of philosophy known as aesthetics.

The definition and evaluation of art has become especially problematic since the early 20th century. Richard Wollheim distinguishes three approaches: the Realist, whereby aesthetic quality is an absolute value independent of any human view; the Objectivist, whereby it is also an absolute value, but is dependent on general human experience; and the Relativist position, whereby it is not an absolute value, but depends on, and varies with, the human experience of different humans.^[1] An object may be characterized by the intentions, or lack thereof, of its creator, regardless of its apparent purpose. A cup, which ostensibly can be used as a container, may be considered art if intended solely as an ornament, while a painting may be deemed craft if mass-produced.

Traditionally, the term art was used to refer to any skill or mastery. This conception changed during the Romantic period, when art came to be seen as "a special faculty of the human mind to be classified with religion and science".^[2] Generally, art is made with the intention of stimulating thoughts and emotions.

The nature of art has been described by Richard Wollheim as "one of the most elusive of the traditional problems of human culture".^[3] It has been defined as a vehicle for the expression or communication of emotions and ideas, a means for exploring and appreciating formal elements for their own sake, and as mimesis or representation.^[4] Leo Tolstoy identified art as a use of indirect means to communicate from one person to another.^[4] Benedetto Croce and R.G. Collingwood advanced the idealist view that art expresses emotions, and that the work of art therefore essentially exists in the mind of the creator.^[5][6] The theory of art as form has its roots in the philosophy of Immanuel Kant, and was developed in the early twentieth century by Roger Fry and Clive Bell.^[4] Art as mimesis or representation has deep roots in the philosophy of Aristotle.^[4] More recently, thinkers influenced by Martin Heidegger have interpreted art as the means by which a community develops for itself a medium for self-expression and interpretation.^[7]

Heart

Archosaurs, (crocodilians, birds), and mammals show complete separation of the heart into two pumps for a total of four heart chambers; it is thought that the four-chambered heart of archosaurs evolved independently from that of mammals. In crocodilians, there is a small opening, the foramen of Panizza, at the base of the arterial trunks and there is some degree of mixing between the blood in each side of the heart; thus, only in birds and mammals are the two streams of blood - those to the pulmonary and systemic circulations - kept entirely separate by a physical barrier.^[6]

In the human body, the heart is usually situated in the middle of the thorax with the largest part of the heart slightly offset to the left, although sometimes it is on the right (see dextrocardia), underneath the sternum. The heart is usually felt to be on the left side because the left heart (left ventricle) is stronger (it pumps to all body parts). The left lung is smaller than the right lung because the heart occupies more of the left hemithorax. The heart is fed by the coronary circulation and is enclosed by a sac known as the pericardium; it is also surrounded by the lungs. The pericardium comprises two parts: the fibrous pericardium, made of dense fibrous connective tissue, and a double membrane structure (parietal and visceral pericardium) containing a serous fluid to reduce friction during heart contractions. The heart is located in the mediastinum, which is the central sub-division of the thoracic cavity. The mediastinum also contains other structures, such as the esophagus and trachea, and is flanked on either side by the right and left pulmonary cavities; these cavities house the lungs.^[9]

The apex is the blunt point situated in an inferior (pointing down and left) direction. A stethoscope can be placed directly over the apex so that the beats can be counted. It is located posterior to the 5th intercostal space just medial of the left mid-clavicular line. In normal adults, the mass of the heart is 250-350 g (9-12 oz), or about twice the size of a clenched fist (it is about the size of a clenched fist in children), but an extremely diseased heart can be up to 1000 g (2 lb) in mass due to hypertrophy. It consists of four chambers, the two upper atria and the two lower ventricles.

In mammals, the function of the right side of the heart (see right heart) is to collect de-oxygenated blood, in the right atrium, from the body (via superior and inferior vena cavae) and pump it, via the right ventricle, into the lungs (pulmonary circulation) so that carbon dioxide can be dropped off and oxygen picked up (gas exchange). This happens through the passive process of diffusion. The left side (see left heart) collects oxygenated blood from the lungs into the left atrium. From the left atrium the blood moves to the left ventricle which pumps it out to the body (via the aorta). On both sides, the lower ventricles are thicker and stronger than the upper atria. The muscle wall surrounding the left ventricle is thicker than the wall surrounding the right ventricle due to the higher force needed to pump the blood through the systemic circulation.

Starting in the right atrium, the blood flows through the tricuspid valve to the right ventricle. Here, it is pumped out the pulmonary semilunar valve and travels through the pulmonary artery to the lungs. From there, blood flows back through the pulmonary vein to the left atrium. It then travels through the mitral valve to the left ventricle, from where it is pumped through the aortic semilunar valve to the aorta. The aorta forks and the blood is divided between major arteries which supply the upper and lower body. The blood travels in the arteries to the smaller arterioles and then, finally, to the tiny capillaries which feed each cell. The (relatively) deoxygenated blood then travels to the venules, which coalesce into veins, then to the inferior and superior venae cavae and finally back to the right atrium where the process began.

The heart is effectively a syncytium, a meshwork of cardiac muscle cells interconnected by contiguous cytoplasmic bridges. This relates to electrical stimulation of one cell spreading to neighboring cells.

Some cardiac cells are self-excitable, contracting without any signal from the nervous system, even if removed from the heart and placed in culture. Each of these cells have their own intrinsic contraction rhythm. A region of the human heart called the sinoatrial node, or pacemaker, sets the rate and timing at which all cardiac muscle cells contract. The SA node generates electrical impulses, much like those produced by nerve cells. Because cardiac muscle cells are electrically coupled by inter-calated disks between adjacent cells, impulses from the SA node spread rapidly through the walls of the artria, causing both artria to contract in unison. The impulses also pass to another region of specialized cardiac muscle tissue, a relay point called the atrioventricular node, located in the wall between the right artrium and the right ventricle. Here, the impulses are delayed for about 0.1s before spreading to the walls of the ventricle. The delay ensures that the artria empty completely before the ventricles contract. Specialized muscle fibers called Purkinje fibers then conduct the signals to the apex of the heart along and throughout the ventricular walls. The Purkinje fibres form conducting pathways called bundle branches. The impulses generated during the heart cycle produce electrical currents, which are conducted through body fluids to the skin, where they can be detected by electrodes and recorded as an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG).^[10]

The SA node is found in all amniotes but not in more primitive vertebrates. In these animals, the muscles of the heart are relatively continuous and the sinus venosus coordinates the beat which passes in a wave through the remaining chambers. Indeed, since the sinus venosus is incorporated into the right atrium in amniotes, it is likely homologous with the SA node. In teleosts, with their vestigial sinus venosus, the main centre of coordination is, instead, in the atrium. The rate of heartbeat varies enormously between different species, ranging from around 20 beats per minute in codfish to around 600 in hummingbirds.^[6]

Cardiac arrest is the sudden cessation of normal heart rhythm which can include a number of pathologies such as tachycardia, an extremely rapid heart beat which prevents the heart from effectively pumping blood, fibrillation, which is an irregular and ineffective heart rhythm, and asystole, which is the cessation of heart rhythm entirely.

Cardiac tamponade is a condition in which the fibrous sac surrounding the heart fills with excess fluid or blood, suppressing the heart's ability to beat properly. Tamponade is treated by pericardiocentesis, the gentle insertion of the needle of a syringe into the pericardial sac (avoiding the heart itself) on an angle, usually from just below the sternum, and gently withdrawing the tamponading fluids.

BLACK LIVER

Communication Design/ Liver

HOCHLAUFENDER TEXT

communication design// the wind howls through the room, whose shelves are empty but for three small cartons: photoshop, illustrator, indesign// vital organ// must have an eye for details// plan, analyze and create visual solutions to communication problems// detoxification// liver tissue is composed of thousands of lobules with a multitude of media// able to regenerate itself// punctation// divided into four lobes of unequal size and shape// image resembling icons// the most effective way to get messages across// falciform shape// performs many different tasks// content defines the shape//

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RUNTERLAUFENDER TEXT

everybody is// communication design// masterstudio design// liver// everybody is// liver// communication design// everybody is a liver// everybody is// everybody is a communication designer// everybody is a part of it// masterstudio design//

= 162

Communication design

Graphic design, scientific research, image influence, multitude of media, the meaning of images, Iconic Turn, develope research and methodology, further existing knowledge, drawing with analogue and digital, beyond the surface, image reseampling icons, baseline grid, most aphesia cases are caused by a stroke, assessing communication is related to getting to know the person´s barrieres in life, plan, analyze, and create visual solutions to communications problems, find the most effective way to get messages across, develop the overall layout and production design, environmental graphics, the message the design should portray, cognitive, cultural, physical, and social factors, They also must have an eye for details., The wind howls through the room, whose shelves are empty but for three small cartons: Flash, Photoshop, Illustrator., focus the radical plasticity of the computational medium on an examination of non-verbal communications protocols, assert flux and indefiniteness of identity as qualities that can be found in the world,

Liver

Vital, organ, largest glandular organ of the body, wide range of functions, detoxification, production of biochemicals, neccessary for digestion, survival, hormone reduction plasma protein synthesis, performs and regulates, falciform ligament, liverspot, my liver has packed and left the country, reddish brown in color, divided into four lobes of unequal size and shape, divided into four lobes of unequal size and shape, portal vein, blood vessels subdivide in the liver repeatedly, capillary leads to a lobule, Liver tissue is composed of thousands of lobules,

BLACK STOMACH

Interior Design / Stomach

HOCHLAUFENDER TEXT

intersection of architecture and design// hollow// muscular// stomach// furniture lightning rooms// churns food before it moves on to the rest// scenography// story telling// digestive system// a way that appeals to the senses or emotions// second act// only organ that creates noise// interplay of sound, visuals and action// space is undetermined// moves people// chewing food// interaction//

=218

RUNTERLAUFENDER TEXT

everybody is// interior design// masterstudio design// stomach// everybody is// stomach// interior design// everybody is a stomach// everybody is// everybody is an interior designer// everybody is part of it// masterstudio design//

Interior Architecture

The National Center for Education Statistics's definition of Interior Architecture: "A program that prepares individuals to apply architectural principles in the design of structural interiors for living, recreational, and business purposes and to function as professional interior architects. Includes instruction in architecture, structural systems design, heating and cooling systems, occupational and safety standards, interior design, specific end-use applications, and professional responsibilities and standards." Interior Architecture stands at the intersection of architecture, design of the built environment and conservation. The program addresses the design issues intrinsic to the re-use and transformation of existing structures through and innovative and progressive approach.

However, a practicing professional cannot use the title of "Interior Architect" unless they complete the requirements for becoming a registered or licensed architect.

In mainland Europe (that is excluding the anglo-Saxon countries) the term "Interior Architecture" is generally used to describe what is defined in North America as "Interior Design" with a few exceptions. In many European countries the use of the title "Interior Architect" is legally regulated. For more information see ECIA [1]

stomach

In most mammals, the stomach is a hollow, muscular organ of the gastrointestinal tract (digestive system), between the esophagus and the small intestine. It is involved in the second phase of digestion, following mastication (chewing). The word stomach is derived from the Latin stomachus which is derived from the Greek word stomachos which is derived from the word gastro- and gastric (meaning related to the stomach) are both derived from the Greek word gaster (γαστήρ). The stomach churns food before it moves on to the rest of the digestive system.

This article is primarily about the human stomach, though the information about its processes are directly applicable to most mammals.^[3] Ruminants are an exception. For information about the stomach of cattle, buffalo and similar mammals, see ruminants.

BLACK KIDNEY

Hyperwerk (Interaction D., Processing)/ Kidneys

HOCHLAUFENDER TEXT

open source// urinary system// embedding information technology// kidneys// blood moves through a small network// defines the behaviour// hyperwerk// teach within a visual context// processing// in a space called the retroperitoneum// interface of different design disciplines// pervasive computing// is poised to become one of the main liberal arts of the twenty-first century// hyper// two organs although only one is needed to survive//

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RUNTERLAUFENDER TEXT

everybody is// interaction design// masterstudio design// kidneys// everybody is// kidneys// interaction design// everybody is a kidney// everybody is// everybody is an interaction designer// everybody is a part of it// masterstudio design//

Hyperwerk

Processing is an open source programming language and environment for people who want to program images, animation, and interactions. It is used by students, artists, designers, researchers, and hobbyists for learning, prototyping, and production. It is created to teach fundamentals of computer programming within a visual context and to serve as a software sketchbook and professional production tool.

Interaction design (IxD) is the study of devices with which a user can interact, in particular computer users. The practice typically centers around "embedding information technology into the ambient social complexities of the physical world."^[1] It can also apply to other types of non-electronic products and services, and even organizations. Interaction design defines the behavior (the "interaction") of an artifact or system in response to its users. Malcolm McCullough has written, "As a consequence of pervasive computing, interaction design is poised to become one of the main liberal arts of the twenty-first century."^[2]

Kidneys

The kidneys are paired organs, which have the production of urine as their primary function. Kidneys are seen in many types of animals, including vertebrates and some invertebrates. They are an essential part of the urinary system, but have several secondary functions concerned with homeostatic functions. These include the regulation of electrolytes, acid-base balance, and blood pressure. In producing urine, the kidneys excrete wastes such as urea and ammonium; the kidneys also are responsible for the reabsorption of glucose and amino acids. Finally, the kidneys are important in the production of hormones including vitamin D, renin and erythropoietin.

Located behind the abdominal cavity in the retroperitoneum, the kidneys receive blood from the paired renal arteries, and drain into the paired renal veins. Each kidney excretes urine into a ureter, itself a paired structure that empties into the urinary bladder.

Renal physiology is the study of kidney function, while nephrology is the medical specialty concerned with diseases of the nephron, which is the functional unit of the kidney. Diseases of the kidney are diverse, but individuals with kidney disease frequently display characteristic clinical features. Common clinical presentations include the nephritic and nephrotic syndromes, acute kidney failure, chronic kidney disease, urinary tract infection, nephrolithiasis, and urinary tract obstruction.^[1]

In humans, the kidneys are located behind the abdominal cavity, in a space called the retroperitoneum. There are two, one on each side of the spine; they are approximately at the vertebral level T12 to L3.^[2] The right kidney sits just below the diaphragm and posterior to the liver, the left below the diaphragm and posterior to the spleen. Resting on top of each kidney is an adrenal gland (also called the suprarenal gland). The asymmetry within the abdominal cavity caused by the liver typically results in the right kidney being slightly lower than the left, and left kidney being located slightly more medial than the right.^[3][4] The upper (cranial) parts of the kidneys are partially protected by the eleventh and twelfth ribs, and each whole kidney and adrenal gland are surrounded by two layers of fat (the perirenal and pararenal fat) and the renal fascia. Each adult kidney weighs between 125 and 170 g in males and between 115 and 155 g in females.^[2] The left kidney is typically slightly larger than the right.^{[citation needed]}

1. Renal pyramid • 2. Interlobar artery • 3. Renal artery • 4. Renal vein • 5. Renal hilum • 6. Renal pelvis • 7. Ureter • 8. Minor calyx • 9. Renal capsule • 10. Inferior renal capsule • 11. Superior renal capsule • 12. Interlobar vein • 13. Nephron • 14. Minor calyx • 15. Major calyx • 16. Renal papilla • 17. Renal column

The kidney has a bean-shaped structure, each kidney has concave and convex surfaces. The concave surface, the renal hilum, is the point at which the renal artery enters the organ, and the renal vein and ureter leave. The kidney is surrounded by tough fibrous tissue, the renal capsule, which is itself surrounded by perinephric fat, renal fascia (of Gerota) and paranephric fat. The anterior (front) border of these tissues is the peritoneum, while the posterior (rear) border is the transversalis fascia.

The substance, or parenchyma, of the kidney is divided into two major structures: superficial is the renal cortex and deep is the renal medulla. Grossly, these structures take the shape of 8 to 18 cone-shaped renal lobes, each containing renal cortex surrounding a portion of medulla called a renal pyramid (of Malphigi).^[2] Between the renal pyramids are projections of cortex called renal columns (of Bertin). Nephrons, the urine-producing functional structures of the kidney, span the cortex and medulla. The initial filtering portion of a nephron is the renal corpuscle, located in the cortex, which is followed by a renal tubule that passes from the cortex deep into the medullary pyramids. Part of the renal cortex, a medullary ray is a collection of renal tubules that drain into a single collecting duct.

The tip, or papilla, of each pyramid empties urine into a minor calyx, minor calyces empty into major calyces, and major calyces empty into the renal pelvis, which becomes the ureter.

[edit] Blood supply

The kidneys receive blood from the renal arteries, left and right, which branch directly from the abdominal aorta. Despite their relatively small size, the kidneys receive approximately 20% of the cardiac output.^[2]

Each renal artery branches into segmental arteries, dividing further into interlobar arteries which penetrate the renal capsule and extend through the renal columns between the renal pyramids. The interlobar arteries then supply blood to the arcuate arteries that run through the boundary of the cortex and the medulla. Each arcuate artery supplies several interlobular arteries that feed into the afferent arterioles that supply the glomeruli.

After filtration occurs the blood moves through a small network of venules that converge into interlobular veins. As with the arteriole distribution the veins follow the same pattern, the interlobular provide blood to the arcuate veins then back to the interlobar veins which come to form the renal vein exiting the kidney for transfusion for blood.