Renal calyx, renal pole, renal pelvis, renal hilus, migrating kidney, renal cortex, renal medulla, nephron, primary urine, pelvic inflammation
Medical: Ren
English: Kidney
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The kidney, of which every human usually has two, is roughly bean-shaped. Each kidney weighs approximately 120-200 g, with the right kidney generally smaller and lighter than the left.
You can find more information about the anatomy of the abdominal cavity here: Abdomen
For orientation of the kidney the doctor describes an upper and a lower kidney pole (upper and lower end of the kidney), an anterior and a posterior surface of the kidney and a medial (i.e. facing the center of the body) and a lateral (outer) edge.
At the medial (inner) edge of the kidney there is an indentation called the renal hilus. This is where blood vessels reach and leave the kidney, and this is where that is also located Renal pelvis, from where the urine passes through the ureter in the bladder got.
The kidney is covered by a tough connective tissue capsule (Capsula fibrosa) overdrawn. Underneath there is a layer of fat, the capsula adiposa, which protects the kidneys as it cushions shocks and vibrations.
In the case of severe emaciation (such as a anorexia) this layer of fat can be completely absent, which means that the kidney changes its position due to lack of support (so-called migrating kidney).
The position of the kidneys changes with the position of the body and with breathing: the kidneys are thus lower when standing than when lying down and deeper when breathing in than when exhaling. Due to the occupation by the Liver (hepar) the right kidney is slightly lower than the left.
Each kidney has its own artery (Renal artery) arising from the Main artery (Aorta) arises and a vein (renal vein) that carries the blood to the inferior vena cava (Vena cava) promoted.
The renal arteries also supply the adrenal gland, ureter (ureter) and fat capsule with nutrients and oxygen.
Before entering the renal hilum, each divides Renal artery in 2 - 3 branches. Additional kidney vessels are also not uncommon, but are not of any disease value. Nevertheless, knowledge of such unusual blood flow conditions, e.g. B. be important in operations.
The kidney is divided into:
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They are clearly distinguishable in color and structure.
1. Renal medulla (medulla renalis):
The renal medulla consists of approx. 12-15 conical pyramids, the base of which points towards the surface of the kidney, while the tip (papilla) protrudes into the calyx of the renal pelvis. There are several openings in the papilla through which the urine enters the renal pelvis.
$config[ads_text2] not found2. Renal cortex (Cortex renalis):
The kidney cortex everts itself over the base of the medullary pyramids. In longitudinal sections, the surface appears columnar (so-called Bertini columns). A medullary pyramid with an associated cortical layer forms a renal lobe that is roughly wedge-shaped.
This is considered the basic unit of the kidney Nephron. It consists of:
which can be divided into different sections of the kidney.
In total, every person has around 2 million nephrons!
1. Kidney corpuscles (glomerulus)
The kidney corpuscle is a tangle of tiny blood vessels (Capillaries), with one inlet and one outlet each (vascular pole). It is surrounded by a capsule (Bowman capsule), which consists of two leaves.
A protein-free filtrate from the blood (the primary urine) is released into the space in between, which is passed into a canal system at the urinary pole (opposite the vascular pole).
The walls of the capillaries in the coil have large pores through which the blood can be filtered into the capsule. The passage of protein is prevented by feet cells (podocytes), which cover the pores with their feet like a kind of sieve and prevent the passage of too large particles.
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At the vascular pole there is a point of contact with the urinary drainage system, the macula densa. Here the saline concentration of the urine is measured and, depending on the result, the blood flow and thus the filter performance of the glomerulum is changed.
2. Renal tubules (tubules)
The kidney tubules can be divided into different sections.
The so-called secondary urine (approx. 1.5 - 2 l per day) reaches the renal pelvis from the collecting tubes and then continues through the ureter (Ureter) into the bladder.
Almost all kidney tumors are so-called renal cell carcinomas. These malignant tumors (malignancies) are relatively insensitive to chemotherapy and can take very different courses. At the Kidney cancer is mostly a tumor of the elderly patient (usually between 60 and 80 years of age).
Further information is available under our topic: Kidney cancer
Dem acute kidney failure (ANV) can have various causes, e.g. B. acute glomerulonephritis, damage to the blood vessels of the kidneys (e.g. vasculitis), toxins and much more. Often it arises after serious injury, surgery, or shock sepsis. The prognosis for multiple organ failure is particularly poor.
Further information is available under our topic: acute kidney failure
In the constipation an artery (through a thrombosis or embolism) or their branch, e.g. B. by a blood clot, kidney infarction (tissue destruction) occurs in the supply area, which means that the kidney tissue no longer supplied with blood dies.