●Location of the Kidneys

>The kidneys are small dark red/reddish

brown, bean-shaped organs which lie
against the dorsal body wall in a
retroperitoneal position(behind the
parietal peritoneum) in the superior
lumbar region.
>They are located between the levels of
the twelfth thoracic(T12) vertebra and
the third lumbar vertebra(L3), thus they
are protected by the lower part of the rib
cage.

SCRIPT:
o As we noticed in the image,
The right kidney is slightly lower than the
left kidney.
Why? Why does the right kidney is
slightly lower than the left kidney.
>because of kidney's position where it is
crowded by the liver.

●Structure of the Kidney

An adult kidney is about 12 cm (5
inches) long and 6 cm (2.5 inches) wide
ad 3 cm(1 inch) thick,or about the size of
a large bar soap.

Renal hilum
>It is convex laterally and has a medial
indentation where several structures
enter or exit the kidney (ureters, renal
blood vessels, and nerves)
>An adrenal gland sits atop each kidney,
SCRIPT:
In whichadrenal gland is a part of the
endocrine system and is a separate
organ.
SCRIPT: Each kidney is protected by
three layers of connective tissue.Deep to
superficial

●Three protective layers of the kidney.

>A transparent Fibrous capsule encloses

each kidney and gives it a glistening
appearance
>A fatty mass,Perirenal fat capsule
surrounds the kidney and cushions
against blows
>Renal fascia- the most superficial layer
(SAY:made of dense fibrous connective
tissue)that anchors the kidney and
adrenal gland to surrounding structures
SCRIPT:Three regions of the kidney are
evident:the cortex the medulla and
pelvis.
PRESENTATION
●Three regions revealed in a longitudinal
section;
1.Renal cortex—outer region Script:
(cortex=bark) light in color

2. Renal medulla—deeper region

Script: or Deep to the cortex,darker
reddish brown area. The medulla has a
triangular regions of tissue with a striped
appearance the

>Renal pyramids(medullary
pyramids) —triangular regions of tissue
in the medulla
>Renal columns—extensions of
cortexlike material that separate the
pyramids
3. Renal pelvis—lateral to the hilum,is a
flat, funnel-shaped tube
>Calyces form cup-shaped ―drains‖ that
enclose the renal/tips of the pyramids
>Calyces collect urine and send it to the
renal pelvis, on to the ureter, and to the
urinary bladder for storage

●Blood supply

script: The kidneys continuously cleanse

the blood and adjust its composition, so
it is not surprising that they have a rich
blood supply (see Figure 15.2b and c).

>One-quarter of the total blood supply of

the body passes through the kidneys
each minute
>Renal artery provides each kidney with
arterial blood supply
>Renal artery divides into segmental
arteries →interlobar arteries → arcuate
arteries → cortical radiate arteries
Script:Within each kidney, the renal
artery branches to form a number of
interlobar arteries that run along the
renal columns. These arteries branch to
form smaller and smaller arteries and
finally form arterioles.

>At the cortex-medulla junction,

interlobar arteries give off the arcuate
arteries, which arch over the medullary
pyramids.

>Small cortical radiate arteries then

branch off the arcuate arteries to supply
the renal cortex.
●Venous blood flow
Script: Venous blood draining from the
kidney flows through veins that trace the
pathway of the arterial supply but in a
reverse direction
>Cortical radiate veins → arcuate veins
→ interlobar veins → renal vein

Script:which emerges from the kidney

hilum and empties into the inferior vena
cava.
>There are no segmental veins
>Renal vein returns blood to the inferior
vena cava