Hi Friends!!!

In our previous anatomy and physiology session we have discussed about Lung Anatomy, Function and Disease. Please check out for the link below.

Lung Anatomy, Function and Disease

Being a healthcare professional, it is very important to have knowledge about human body.

Today we are going to discuss about Anatomy of the Kidney.

Kidney is one of the important organ in our human body. It it very much helpful in excreting waste from our body.

Let's get into the topic.

ANATOMY OF KIDNEY

The kidney’s anatomy can be divided into two segments, external anatomy and internal anatomy. The external anatomy describes about the structure and location of kidney. The internal anatomy describes about the different parts of kidney

Image courtesy: Wikimedia commons
Licensed under: CC Share Alike

EXTERNAL ANATOMY OF KIDNEY

Kidneys are two bean shaped organs located on either side of the spine in retroperitoneal space between parietal peritoneum and posterior abdominal wall. Kidneys extend from T12 to L3 of vertebrae, on which right kidney is slightly lower than the left kidney to accommodate liver on the right abdominal cavity. Each kidney is approximately three vertebrae in length.

The kidney is covered by fibrous capsule composed of dense, irregular connective tissue which helps to hold the shape of the kidney and also to protect the kidney. This capsule is covered by shock absorbing layer of adipose tissue. The adrenal gland is present superior to each kidney.

MEASUREMENT OF KIDNEY

Width: 6 cm, Thick: 4 cm, Length: 11 to 14 cm.
Weight: Male - 125 to 175 Grams & Female - 115 to 155 Grams.

Image courtesy: Wikimedia commons
Licensed under: CC Share Alike

INTERNAL ANATOMY OF KIDNEY

NEPHRON

Nephrons are known as functional unit of kidney. Nephrons are the structure that actually produces urine by removing waste and excess substance from the blood.

RENAL HILUM

Renal hilum is the entry and exit pathways for structures serving the kidney.
Structures passing through renal hilum are vein, nerve, artery and lymphatics.

RENAL CAPSULE

Renal capsule is thin but tough and fibrous outer membrane that surrounds the kidney.

RENAL CORTEX

Renal cortex is outer portion of kidney located between renal capsule and renal medulla. Erythropoietin is a hormone necessary for the synthesis of new red blood cells, which is produced in the cortex.

RENAL MEDULLA

Renal medulla is the innermost part of the kidney. The important function of the medulla is to regulate urine concentration. Renal medulla is spilt up into number of sections known as renal pyramids. The apex of renal pyramids are called as renal papilla.

RENAL COLUMNS

The Renal columns radiate downwards from the cortex through the medulla to separate the renal pyramids and renal papillae. Renal columns are located in between renal pyramids where blood vessel passes. The renal pyramid creates urine and passes onto the renal papilla. The renal papilla drains in minor calyx.

CALYX

Calyx are cavity where urine is collected, before it flows into urinary bladder. Calyx is divided into major and minor calyx. The minor calyx collects urine from renal papilla and several minor calyx joins together to form major calyx. This major calyx passes onto the renal pelvis.

RENAL PELVIS

Renal pelvis is the enlarged upper end of ureter. Renal pelvis collects urine from the major calyx. Renal pelvis acts as a funnel for urine flowing to the ureter.

URETER

Ureter is a tube which is about 30 cm by which urine passes from kidney to urinary bladder.

URINARY BLADDER

The urinary bladder is a sac that collects and stores the urine that comes from the ureters.

URETHRA

The urethra is a narrow pathway where the urine passes from urinary bladder to outside of the body as a urination.

Now I hope you have acquired some knowledge about Anatomy of Kidney. We will discuss in detail about a topic related to Biomedical Engineering in our future blogs.

NOTE: Dear friends!!!... Please do comment a topic related to Biomedical, so that we can discuss it in future blogs.

Check out for this blog about Computed Tomography, X ray, MRI scan, ECG.

Generations of CT Scanners

COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY|TECHNOLOGY|ARTIFACTS

x ray machine working principle

components of x ray tube

MRI scan

MRI With Contrast

Brain MRI

Types of MRI scanners

ELECTROCARDIOGRAM

12 Lead ECG Placement