Anatomy of the Kidney

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


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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.


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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.


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