Kidney Structure

The kidney is a complex organ with a number of different parts that take on different roles. While you won’t become a medical doctor after reading this article, you will have a better understanding of the various parts of the kidney. Let’s get to it. 

The bean-shaped organ comes in a nice pair in the human body, one located on each side of the body in fact. The renal capsule is a thick layer of tissue that surrounds the kidneys, and this provides a shell for the softer organ inside to retain its shape. The renal hilum is the point at which the renal artery enters the kidney. This provides the blood flow.

The superficial or surface part of the kidney is the renal cortex, while the part deep inside is the renal medulla. Each of the renal lobes features a rental cortex surrounding part of the medulla called a renal pyramid, and between those are renal columns.

The renal artery, mentioned earlier, is very important. Even though it is small, they receive nearly 20% of the heart’s output. They branch into smaller arteries that go through the renal capsule and that extend through the columns and between the pyramids in order to feed blood to the kidneys.

Do all of these words and medical terms sound confusing? If you aren’t a medical specialist, then the answer is probably yes. The body is an amazing machine and the kidneys are multifaceted and have a host of different parts. Though many patients will not need to understand what each of the parts of the kidney does, they do need to understand how important it is to keep the organs as healthy as possible. Get regular tests and make lifestyle changes to keep the kidneys in great shape 

Reference
http://www.ivy-rose.co.uk/HumanBody/Urinary/Urinary_System_Kidney_Diagram.php
http://www.innerbody.com/image_urinov/dige05-new.html

Our informational articles are for your information only and are not intended as medical advice. Because everyone is different, we recommend you work with your medical professional to determine what’s best for you.