Question

Explain the structure of the kidney.

[Review question: Pg. No: 245]

Answer 1

Struture of Kidneys:

• Kidneys are bean-shaped reddish-brown in colour.
• The kidneys lie on either side of the vertebral column in the abdominal cavity attached to the dorsal body wall.
• The right kidney is placed lower than the left kidney as the liver takes up much space on the right side.
• Each kidney is about 11 cm long, 5 cm wide, and 3 cm thick.
• Internally the kidney consists of:
  • An outer dark region the cortex. Longitudinal section of human kidney
  • The inner lighter region the medulla.
• Both of these regions contain uriniferous tubules or nephrons.
• The medulla consists of multitubular conical masses called the
  or whose bases are adjacent to the cortex.
• On the inner concave side of each kidney, a notch called hilum is present through which blood vessels and nerves enter in and the urine leaves out.

Structure of the kidney