Physiological Anatomy of the Kidney

Physiological Anatomy of the Kidney 

Kidney 

General Organization of the kidneys and Urinary Tract ..

The two kidneys lie on the posterior wall of the abdomen, outside the peritoneal cavity . Each kidney of the adult human weights about 150gm  and is about the size of a clenched first. The medial side of each kidney contains an inverted region called the hilum through which pass the renal artery and vein, lymphatic’s , nerve supply and ureter that carries the final urine from the kidney to the bladder, where it is stored until emptied,. If the kidney is bisected from top to bottom the two major regions that can be visualized are the outer cortex and the inner region referred to as the medulla. 

Kidney

  The medulla of the kidney is divided into multiple cone shaped masses of tissue called renal pyramids. The base of each pyramid originates at the border between the cortex and medulla as well as terminates in the papilla which projects into the space of the renal pelvis, a funnel-shaped continuation of the upper end  of the ureter. The outer border of the pelvis  is divided into open ended pouches called major  calices that extend downward and divide into minor calices , which collect urine from the tubules of each papilla. The walls of the calices pelvis and ureter contain contain  contractile elements that propel the urine toward the bladder where urine  is stored until it is emptied by micturition.