Kidneys are bean-shaped structures located on either side of the backbone and are protected by the ribs and muscles of the back.
On the inside, the kidney is divided into an outer renal cortex and an inner renal medulla.
The outer part of the kidney is the renal cortex. It contains the glomerulus and convoluted tubules.
The renal cortex is surrounded on its outer edges by the renal capsule, a layer of fatty tissue. Together, the renal cortex and capsule house and protect the inner structures of the kidney.
Final Answer: Cortex is the outer part of the kidney.