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Questions and Answers
Which organ is found on the superior surface of the kidneys?
Where is the hilus of the kidney located?
What surrounds the kidneys to cushion them and prevent disturbance to their function?
What structure attaches the kidneys and the renal fat pad to the abdominal wall?
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What is the function of the renal capsule?
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In relation to the inferior vena cava, where is the abdominal aorta located?
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Which region of the kidney is a darker reddish-brown area?
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What structures in the medulla of the kidney are cone-shaped?
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What is the approximate weight of a typical adult kidney?
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Which part of the kidney has extensions called medullary rays reaching into the cortex?
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Study Notes
Kidney Location and Structure
- Kidneys are bean-shaped organs located in the dorsal part of the abdomen, retroperitoneally, behind the stomach and liver.
- The right kidney is situated slightly lower than the left.
- The hilus of the kidney is on its medial surface, where the ureter, renal blood vessels, and nerves enter/exit.
- Kidneys are surrounded by the renal fat pad, which cushions them and prevents disturbance to normal kidney function.
- The renal sinus is a cavity that opens into the area around the hilum.
- Renal fascia, a thin layer of connective tissue, attaches the kidneys and renal fat pad to the abdominal wall.
Anatomy of the Kidney
- Each kidney is enclosed by a renal capsule composed of dense fibrous connective tissue.
- A typical adult kidney is approximately 10 cm (4 in.) in length, 5.5 cm (2.2 in.) in width, and 3 cm (1.2 in.) in thickness.
- Each kidney weighs around 150g (5.25 oz).
- The outer region, the cortex, is a light color.
- The renal medulla, a darker reddish-brown area, surrounds the renal sinus.
- The medulla has cone-shaped renal pyramids with extensions called medullary rays reaching into the cortex.
- Renal columns, extensions of the cortex, separate the renal pyramids.
Related Structures
- Adrenal glands, endocrine organs, are located on the superior surface of the kidneys.
- The abdominal aorta is to the left of the inferior vena cava.
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Description
Learn about the anatomy and positioning of the human kidneys, including details about their location in the abdomen, the structure of the hilus, and the surrounding renal fat pad.
