Overview of the kidney (English)

The kidneys are positioned in the retroperitoneal space at the level of vertebrae T12-L3. They have a bean-like morphology with two poles (superior and inferior) and two borders (medial and lateral). Located at the superior pole is the suprarenal gland. The medial border of the kidney is defined by the hilum of the kidney, which is the entry and exit point for the neurovascular structures of the kidney (renal artery and vein, renal plexus) and the ureter. The most superior vessel is the renal vein which exits the kidney, just below which is the renal artery that enters in, with the ureter located most inferiorly of the three. The anterior to posterior orientation follows the same pattern: renal vein, renal artery and ureter.