superior pole of kidney
this is the most superior part of the kidney and is where the adrenal glands sit on top of the kidneys
fibrous capsule
perirenal fat
renal fascia
this is a dense outer layer that this acts to anchor the kidney to the posterior abdominal wall
hilum
this is on the medial surface
- this is an indentation where the renal blood and lymph vessels enter and leave, where the nerves enter and leave and where the ureter leaves
renal cortex
- this is along the outer rim of the organ and extends into the medulla in the form of renal columns
renal medulla
this is made up of renal pyramids
- this is the site of the ducts and the tubules of the nephrons that drain urine into the minor calyx
renal papilla
this is the apex of the renal pyramid and this is the site that urine flows into the minor calyx
corticomedullary junction
minor calyx
this is the area right outside of the apex of the renal pyramid where urine first drains out of the collecting ducts
major calyx
this is where a couple minor calices merge and their contents merge
renal pelvis
renal arteries
segmental arteries
interlobar arteries
these are branches off of the segmental arteries and they travel between the renal pyramids and the renal column
arcuate arteries
cortical radiate arteries
these branch off of the arcuate arteries and they extend up into the cortex away from the base of the pyramid
afferent arterioles
efferent arterioles
cortical radiate veins
after the efferent arterioles, the blood travels into a secondary capillary bed around the capillary and this is where the blood becomes deoxygenated
arcuate veins
these are what the cortical radiate veins drain into
- these are along the base of the renal pyramid
interlobar veins
describe the pathway of blood through the kidney
retroperitoneal
situated behind the peritoneum
- the kidneys are retroperitoneal