The renal hilum or renal pedicle is the recessed central fissure of the
kidney
In humans, the kidneys are two reddish-brown bean-shaped blood-filtering organ (anatomy), organs that are a multilobar, multipapillary form of mammalian kidneys, usually without signs of external lobulation. They are located on the left and rig ...
where its vessels,
nerve
A nerve is an enclosed, cable-like bundle of nerve fibers (called axons). Nerves have historically been considered the basic units of the peripheral nervous system. A nerve provides a common pathway for the Electrochemistry, electrochemical nerv ...
s and
ureter
The ureters are tubes composed of smooth muscle that transport urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder. In an adult human, the ureters typically measure 20 to 30 centimeters in length and about 3 to 4 millimeters in diameter. They are lin ...
pass. The medial border of the kidney is concave in the center and convex toward either extremity; it is directed forward and a little downward. Its central part presents a deep longitudinal fissure, bounded by prominent overhanging anterior and posterior lips. This fissure is a
hilum that transmits the vessels, nerves, and ureter. From anterior to posterior, the
renal vein exits, the
renal artery enters, and the
renal pelvis
The renal pelvis or pelvis of the kidney is the funnel-like dilated part of the ureter in the kidney. It is formed by the convergence of the major calyces, acting as a funnel for urine flowing from the major calyces to the ureter. It has a mucous ...
exits the kidney.
On the left hand side the hilum is located at the
L1 vertebral level and the right kidney at level L1-2. The lower border of the kidneys is usually alongside L3.
Structure
The superior, middle, and inferior vessels enter or leave the hilum of kidney: from anterior to posterior is renal vein, renal artery and renal pelvis, respectively.
See also
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Renal artery
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Renal vein
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Renal pyramids
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Renal medulla
The renal medulla (Latin: ''medulla renis'' 'marrow of the kidney') is the innermost part of the kidney. The renal medulla is split up into a number of sections, known as the renal pyramids. Blood enters into the kidney via the renal artery, which ...
References
External links
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{{genitourinary-stub
Kidney anatomy