Where are your kidneys located & where are they located?
Where Your Kidneys are Located & Where Kidney Pain is Felt. Your kidneys are bean-shaped organs that are located in the middle of your back against the back muscles, with one on either side of your spine. Your kidneys provide a vital function for your body to filter blood and produce urine.
Why are the kidneys on the left side of the body?
The left kidney sits a bit higher in the body because of the size of the liver, which is also on the right side. Muscles in your back and your ribcage protect your kidneys from both the front and the back sides of your body. There is also fat tissue, called perirenal fat, that surrounds the kidneys for protection.
What is renal hilus and renal capsule?
Renal hilus: An indentation on the side of the kidney that allows a place for arteries, veins and the ureter (the pathway from the kidney to the bladder) to enter the kidney. Renal capsule: This is a thin layer of tissue that forms a hard shell on the outside of the kidney.
Why are the kidneys medially pointed towards the spine?
This is because the liver and the stomach offset the symmetry of the abdomen, with the liver forcing the right kidney a bit down, and the stomach forcing the left kidney a bit up. The superior poles (extremities) (T12) of both kidneys are more medially pointed towards the spine than the inferior poles (extremities) (L3).
What are the posterior surfaces of the kidneys related to?
The posterior surfaces of both kidneys are related to certain neurovascular structures and muscles: You can easily remember these with the mnemonic: “1-2-3-4 All Boys Need Muscle”. The superior half of each kidney is covered by the diaphragm, which is why the kidneys move up and down during respiration
What is the relationship between the kidneys and the peritoneum?
On the other hand, kidneys do have relations with peritoneum, or precisely with the specific organs that are covered with peritoneum which are placed directly adjacent to the kidneys. Learn more about the anatomy of the kidneys and the urinary system with our urinary system quizzes and labeled diagrams.
