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Internal Anatomy of the Kidney

Internal Anatomy of the Kidney

The kidneys are essential organs in the human body, performing a myriad of tasks that maintain homeostasis and overall health.
Anatomical Position and Dimensions
The kidneys are retroperitoneal organs positioned against the posterior abdominal wall on either side of the spine, roughly between the twelfth thoracic and third lumbar vertebrae. Each kidney is typically 10-12 cm long, 5-6 cm wide, and 3-4 cm thick, weighing about 150 grams.
Renal Cortex
The outermost region of the kidney is the...

External Anatomy of the Kidney

External Anatomy of the Kidney

The kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs in the human body that play a critical role in maintaining overall health. They filter out waste products from the blood, regulate blood pressure, maintain electrolyte balance, and stimulate the production of red blood cells.
The kidneys are located in the retroperitoneal space on either side of the vertebral column, protected posteriorly by the 11th and 12th ribs. The right kidney sits slightly lower than the left owing to the presence of the liver...

Kidney Structure

Kidney Structure

The kidneys are two large bean-shaped organs located in the upper abdomen. They filter the blood several times a day to remove toxins and rebalance water and electrolytes of the circulatory system via the renal veins. The kidneys receive blood directly from the heart via the renal arteries. These arteries enter the kidney at the hilum, the concave surface of the bean, where they branch and divide into smaller vessels and capillaries.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 8, 2025

Optimization of Renal Organoid and Organotypic Culture for Vascularization, Extended Development, and Improved Microscopy Imaging

Optimization of Renal Organoid and Organotypic Culture for Vascularization, Extended Development, and Improved Microscopy Imaging

Published on: March 28, 2020

3D Mapping Reveals a Complex and Transient Interstitial Matrix During Murine Kidney Development.

Sarah N Lipp^1,2, Kathryn R Jacobson³, David S Hains⁴

¹Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.

Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASN

|April 20, 2021

Summary

The extracellular matrix (ECM) in developing kidneys changes significantly, with specific proteins forming structures that support kidney development. This reveals new insights into kidney development and potential for regenerative medicine.

Keywords:

3D imaging basement membrane extracellular matrix interstitial matrix kidney anatomy kidney development mass spectrometry

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Last Updated: Nov 8, 2025

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Published on: March 28, 2020

Use of 3D Robotic Ultrasound for In Vivo Analysis of Mouse Kidneys

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Published on: August 12, 2021

In Utero Intra-cardiac Tomato-lectin Injections on Mouse Embryos to Gauge Renal Blood Flow

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Published on: February 4, 2015

Area of Science:

Developmental Biology
Biochemistry
Regenerative Medicine

Background:

The extracellular matrix (ECM) provides crucial structural and biochemical cues for cell development.
In kidney development (nephrogenesis), the ECM's dynamic changes and 3D structural contributions are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the spatiotemporal changes in ECM composition and 3D structure during kidney development.
To correlate ECM protein abundance with its 3D organization throughout kidney development.

Main Methods:

Kidney tissues from embryonic to adult stages were analyzed using mass spectrometry to quantify ECM proteins (matrisome).
Decellularized kidneys were stained and imaged in 3D using confocal microscopy to visualize ECM structure.

Main Results:

Interstitial ECM increased from embryo to adult, with transient perinatal elevations of specific matrix proteins.
Basement membrane proteins essential for kidney induction were highest in embryos, while glomerular basement membrane proteins peaked in adults.
3D imaging revealed dynamic interstitial matrix remodeling, including perinatal fibrillar structures supporting medullary rays.

Conclusions:

This study correlates 3D ECM organization with protein abundance, uncovering novel developmental changes in the kidney's interstitial matrix.
Findings offer potential for designing regenerative scaffolds to guide kidney development in vitro.