KIDNEY
Location
Retroperitoneal– in the paravertebral gutters
Occupies epigastric, hypochondriac, lumbar and umbilical regions
Long Axis – Parallel with the lateral border of the Psoas major
Vertically – (Approximately) From Upper border of T12 Body of L3 vertebra
Hilum – directed anteromedially
Left hilum
Transpyloric plane
Right hilum
Side differences –
o R. kidney little lower => Liver superiorly located
o R. kidney little away from the mid-line => IVC medially located
o R. kidney lies anterior to 12th rib, while L. kidney lies anterior to 11th& 12th ribs
Relations
-Posterior – similar to both kidneys
Diaphragm & quadratus lumborum muscles
Behind the diaphragm – costodiaphragmatic recess
Medially overlaps (hilum) – Psoas major
Laterally overlaps – Transversus abdominis
Upper pole – Medial & lateral arcuate ligaments
Emerging beneath the lateral arcuate ligament – Subcostal vein, artery and
nerve
Emerging from the lateral border of psoas major – Iliohypogastric & ilioinguinal nerves
Right Left
Superior R. Suprarenal gland L. Suprarenal gland
Liver Stomach & Spleen
Peritoneum of hepatorenal Peritoneum of lesser sac medially
pouch (greater sac) Peritoneum of greater sac laterally
1
, nd
- Anterior Middle 2 part of Duodenum Body of the pancreas
Splenic A. & V.
Lateral Hepatic flexure Splenic flexure of colon
Inferior Beginning of Descending colon
Medial Small intestine Jejunum
Medial
Above the hilum - Suprarenal glands
Below the hilum - Ureter
Lateral
Right kidney Left kidney
Right lobe of the Liver Spleen
Hepatic flexure of the colon Descending colon
Relations of the hilum (Ant to pos-VAP)
Renal vein (V)
Renal artery (A)
Renal pelvis (P)
2
Location
Retroperitoneal– in the paravertebral gutters
Occupies epigastric, hypochondriac, lumbar and umbilical regions
Long Axis – Parallel with the lateral border of the Psoas major
Vertically – (Approximately) From Upper border of T12 Body of L3 vertebra
Hilum – directed anteromedially
Left hilum
Transpyloric plane
Right hilum
Side differences –
o R. kidney little lower => Liver superiorly located
o R. kidney little away from the mid-line => IVC medially located
o R. kidney lies anterior to 12th rib, while L. kidney lies anterior to 11th& 12th ribs
Relations
-Posterior – similar to both kidneys
Diaphragm & quadratus lumborum muscles
Behind the diaphragm – costodiaphragmatic recess
Medially overlaps (hilum) – Psoas major
Laterally overlaps – Transversus abdominis
Upper pole – Medial & lateral arcuate ligaments
Emerging beneath the lateral arcuate ligament – Subcostal vein, artery and
nerve
Emerging from the lateral border of psoas major – Iliohypogastric & ilioinguinal nerves
Right Left
Superior R. Suprarenal gland L. Suprarenal gland
Liver Stomach & Spleen
Peritoneum of hepatorenal Peritoneum of lesser sac medially
pouch (greater sac) Peritoneum of greater sac laterally
1
, nd
- Anterior Middle 2 part of Duodenum Body of the pancreas
Splenic A. & V.
Lateral Hepatic flexure Splenic flexure of colon
Inferior Beginning of Descending colon
Medial Small intestine Jejunum
Medial
Above the hilum - Suprarenal glands
Below the hilum - Ureter
Lateral
Right kidney Left kidney
Right lobe of the Liver Spleen
Hepatic flexure of the colon Descending colon
Relations of the hilum (Ant to pos-VAP)
Renal vein (V)
Renal artery (A)
Renal pelvis (P)
2
