Kidney Location and External Anatomy
Position, Size, Shape, and Outer Coverings of the Kidneys
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Kidney Location
The kidneys are located high along the back wall of the abdominal cavity, posterior to the digestive tract’s organs.
They lie on either side of the spine in the retroperitoneal space between the parietal peritoneum and the posterior abdominal wall and are well protected by muscle, fat, and ribs.
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The left kidney is located at the T12 to L3 vertebral level, whereas the right is lower due to slight displacement from the liver’s position. The upper parts of the kidneys are partially protected by the 11th and 12th ribs.
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External Anatomy
Each kidney weighs about 125–175 g in males and 115–155 g in females. They are about 11–14 cm long, 6 cm wide, and 4 cm thick, and are covered directly by a fibrous capsule composed of dense, irregular connective tissue that helps hold their shape and protect them.
The capsule is covered by a shock-absorbing layer of adipose tissue, the renal fat pad, which is enclosed by a tough renal fascia.
To a lesser extent, the fascia and the overlying peritoneum serve to firmly anchor the kidneys to the posterior abdominal wall in a retroperitoneal position.
The adrenal gland lies superior to each kidney. The adrenal cortex directly influences renal function by producing the hormone aldosterone, which stimulates sodium reabsorption.
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References and Attributions
OpenStax College, Anatomy and Physiology – “Gross Anatomy of the Kidney” Access for free at – https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-and-physiology/pages/1-introduction.
Wikipedia – “Kidney“.
Wikipedia – “Nephron“.