Abstract
The kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped excretory organs located on either side of vertebral column in the retroperitoneum. They are highly vascularized organs that help maintain homeostasis and removal of metabolic waste, excess salts, and water from the blood. Renal anatomy and the anatomical variants can be assessed accurately using modern MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) techniques. Advancements in MRI with minimal anesthesia and sedation along with motion artifacts reduction have increased the role of renal imaging. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a quick overview of the kidney anatomy and physiology.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Soriano RM, Penfold D, Leslie SW. Anatomy, abdomen and pelvis, kidneys. Treasure Island: StatPearls Publishing; 2020.
Federle MP. Embryology of the abdomen. In: Federle MP, Rosado-de-Christenson ML, Woodward PJ, et al., editors. Diagnostic and surgical imaging anatomy. Chest, abdomen, pelvis. Altona: Amirsys; 2006. p. 446–83.
Quaia E, Martingano P, Cavallaro M, Zappetti R. Normal radiological anatomy and anatomical variants of the kidney. In: Quaia E, editor. Radiological imaging of the kidney. Berlin: Springer Berlin Heidelberg; 2011. p. 17–77.
El-Reshaid W, Abdul-Fattah H. Sonographic assessment of renal size in healthy adults. Med Princ Pract. 2014;23:432–6.
Nino-Murcia M, DeVries PA, Friedland GW. Congenital anomalies of the kidneys. Clin Uroradiol. 2000;1:690–763.
Coffin A, Boulay-Coletta I, Sebbag-Sfez D, Zins M. Radioanatomy of the retroperitoneal space. Diagn Interv Imaging. 2015;96:171–86.
Tirkes T, Sandrasegaran K, Patel AA, Hollar MA, Tejada JG, Tann M, et al. Peritoneal and retroperitoneal anatomy and its relevance for cross-sectional imaging. Radiographics. 2012;32:437–51.
Lung K, Lui F. Anatomy, abdomen and pelvis, arteries. Treasure Island: StatPearls Publishing; 2021.
Wright N, Burns B. Anatomy, abdomen and pelvis, posterior abdominal wall arteries. Treasure Island: StatPearls Publishing; 2020.
Jamkar AA, Khan B, Joshi DS. Anatomical study of renal and accessory renal arteries. Saudi J Kidney Dis Transpl. 2017;28:292–7.
Cuttino JT, Clark RL, Jennette JC. Microradiographic demonstration of human intrarenal microlymphatic pathways. Urol Radiol. 1989;11:83–7.
Ishikawa Y, Akasaka Y, Kiguchi H, Akishima-Fukasawa Y, Hasegawa T, Ito K, et al. The human renal lymphatics under normal and pathological conditions. Histopathology. 2006;49:265–73.
Russell PS, Hong J, Windsor JA, Itkin M, Phillips ARJ. Renal lymphatics: anatomy, physiology, and clinical implications. Front Physiol. 2019;10:251.
Frame AA, Carmichael CY, Wainford RD. Renal afferents. Curr Hypertens Rep. 2016;18:69.
Kopp UC. Role of renal sensory nerves in physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2015;308:R79–95.
Zweyer M. Embryology of the kidney. In: Quaia E, editor. Radiological imaging of the kidney. Berlin: Springer Berlin Heidelberg; 2014. p. 3–15.
Rehman S, Ahmed D. Embryology, kidney, bladder, and ureter. Treasure Island: StatPearls Publishing; 2022.
Tutman JJ, Lee EY, Shabani A, Paltiel HJ. Kidney, ureter, and bladder. In: Lee EY, Liszewski MC, Gee MS, Daltro P, Restrepo R, editors. Pediatric body MRI: a comprehensive, multidisciplinary guide. Cham: Springer International Publishing; 2020. p. 327–54.
Bedard MP, Wildman S, Dillman JR. Embryology, anatomy, and variants of the genitourinary tract. In: Coley BD, editor. Caffey’s pediatric diagnostic imaging. 12th ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2013. p. 1163–73.
Leung AW, Bydder GM, Steiner RE, Bryant DJ, Young IR. Magnetic resonance imaging of the kidneys. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1984;143:1215–27.
Shapiro E, Goldfarb DA, Ritchey ML. The congenital and acquired solitary kidney. Rev Urol. 2003;5:2–8.
Solanki S, Bhatnagar V, Gupta AK, Kumar R. Crossed fused renal ectopia: challenges in diagnosis and management. J Indian Assoc Pediatr Surg. 2013;18:7–10.
Williams H. Renal revision: from lobulation to duplication—what is normal? Arch Dis Child Educ Pract Ed. 2007;92:ep152–8.
Fernbach SK, Feinstein KA, Spencer K, Lindstrom CA. Ureteral duplication and its complications. Radiographics. 1997;17:109–27.
Rayner HC, Thomas ME, Milford DV. Kidney anatomy and physiology: the basis of clinical nephrology. Understanding kidney diseases. Cham: Springer International Publishing; 2020. p. 1–9.
Hoenig MP, Zeidel ML. Homeostasis, the milieu intérieur, and the wisdom of the nephron. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2014;9:1272–81.
Pluznick JL, Caplan MJ. Chemical and physical sensors in the regulation of renal function. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2015;10:1626–35.
Subramanya AR, Ellison DH. Distal convoluted tubule. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2014;9:2147–63.
Palmer LG, Schnermann J. Integrated control of Na transport along the nephron. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2015;10:676–87.
Danziger J, Zeidel ML. Osmotic homeostasis. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2015;10:852–62.
Curthoys NP, Moe OW. Proximal tubule function and response to acidosis. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2014;9:1627–38.
Blaine J, Chonchol M, Levi M. Renal control of calcium, phosphate, and magnesium homeostasis. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2015;10:1257–72.
Ogobuiro I, Tuma F. Physiology, renal. Treasure Island: StatPearls Publishing; 2022.
Agnoli GC, Garutti C. [Renal water-electrolyte excretion and its control mechanisms. Current status of knowledge]. Minerva Med. 1976;67:3673–3702.
Mount DB. Thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2014;9:1974–86.
Roy A, Al-bataineh MM, Pastor-Soler NM. Collecting duct intercalated cell function and regulation. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2015;10:305–24.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Venkatakrishna, S.S.B., Onyango, L.C., Serai, S.D., Viteri, B. (2023). Kidney Anatomy and Physiology. In: Serai, S.D., Darge, K. (eds) Advanced Clinical MRI of the Kidney. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-40169-5_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-40169-5_1
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-40168-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-40169-5
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)