Kidney
The human kidney is a bean-shaped organ weighing about half a
pound. We have two kidneys located within the abdominal cavity
and protected at the rear by the spinal column and the big muscles
of the back. The tops of the kidneys are just beneath the ribcage.
The right kidney, above which lies the liver, is usually a little lower
than the left. About 1,700 quarts of blood flow through the
kidneys each day.
Among the kidney cells are certain glands of endocrine secre-
tion. The kidneys produce blood pressure-elevating substances
causing hypertension at times. Erythropoietin is a substance pro
duced by some kidney cells, that stimulates the production of red
blood cells.
In the Taoist Esoteric System, the Ming-men (the Door of Life) is
the energy center corresponding to the activity of the kidneys.
Testes
The male gonads or testes lie in the scrotal sac and the normal
size varies from that of a walnut to that of a pigeon egg. There are
two parts to the testes, the tubules, which produce the sperm, and
the Leydig cells, which produce the principal masculinizing hor-
mone, testosterone. Leydig cells also produce small amounts of
estrogens, the female sex hormones.
The testicle is under the control of gonad-stimulating hormones
or Gonadotrophins. Just before the onset of puberty, gonadotro-
phins are released, causing the testes to mature and to secrete
increasing amounts of testosterone. This induces development of
the secondary sex characteristics such as development of the penis,
pubic and auxiliary hair growth, increased muscle mass, voice
changes, beard growth and all the signs of manliness in vigor and
perhaps even influencing deportment and behavior.
With adequate gonadotrophins and androgen production, the
tubular germ cells ripen into sperm cells. In the case of disorders
of the testes, secondary sexual characteristics will not develop if
there is an androgen deficiency during puberty. If this occurs after
maturity, a partial regression occurs. A pituitary disease may be