Overview of the kidney (Latin)

The kidneys (renes) are positioned in the spatium retroperitoneale at the level of vertebrae T12-L3. They have a bean-like morphology with two poles (polus superior/inferior) and two borders (margo medialis/lateralis). Located at the superior pole is the glandula suprarenalis. The margo medialis renis is defined by the hilum renis, which is the entry and exit point for the neurovascular structures of the kidney (a. renalis, v. renalis, plexus renalis) and the ureter. The most superior vessel is the v. renalis which exits the kidney (ren), just below which is the a. renalis that enters in, with the ureter located most inferiorly of the three. The anterior to posterior orientation follows the same pattern: v. renalis, a. renalis, ureter.