Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

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.

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...

Acute Kidney Injury IV: Diagnostic Studies and Prevention

Acute Kidney Injury IV: Diagnostic Studies and Prevention

Accurate diagnosis and effective prevention are critical in managing Acute Kidney Injury (AKI), which is linked to high mortality rates ranging from 10% to 80%. Timely recognition of at-risk patients and careful monitoring can significantly reduce the likelihood of kidney damage.Diagnostic Assessments:The diagnostic process starts with a comprehensive medical history to identify prerenal, intrarenal, and postrenal causes.Prerenal causes, such as dehydration, hypotension, or blood loss, should...

Kidney Transplant I: Introduction

Kidney Transplant I: Introduction

A kidney transplant is a surgical approach that involves replacing a non-functioning kidney with a healthy one from a donor. This procedure is often a treatment option for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. The method requires careful recipient selection, including evaluating various medical and psychosocial factors. These criteria vary between transplant centers but generally include assessments of the patient's overall health, adherence to medical recommendations, and lifestyle...

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...

Imaging Studies I: Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder Studies

Imaging Studies I: Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder Studies

Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder (KUB) StudiesKidney, Ureter, and Bladder (KUB) studies are standard diagnostic imaging procedures used to assess the anatomy of the urinary system. They are commonly utilized for patients experiencing abdominal pain or urinary symptoms. By using a simple X-ray of the abdomen, KUB studies can reveal structural and pathological abnormalities within the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. These studies are particularly valuable in diagnosing kidney stones, urinary...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

SIX1 branchio-oto-renal syndrome variants have different effects on embryonic craniofacial gene expression and cartilage formation.

Development (Cambridge, England)·2026

Same author

CRISPR-Cas9 engineering of CAR-T cells: Can non-viral nanoparticles unlock safer and scalable genome editing?

iScience·2026

Same author

Glomage: A Multimodal Platform for High-Content Morphological and RNA Profiling of Glomeruli in Zebrafish and Mouse Models.

Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)·2026

Same author

Precise, predictable genome integrations by deep-learning-assisted design of microhomology-based templates.

Nature biotechnology·2025

Same author

Deletion upstream of MAB21L2 highlights the importance of evolutionarily conserved non-coding sequences for eye development.

Nature communications·2024

Same author

Pythia: Non-random DNA repair allows predictable CRISPR/Cas9 integration and gene editing.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2024

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 1, 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

Kidney Development: Recent Insights from Technological Advances.

Ruth Röck^1,2, Ludovica Rizzo^1,2,3, Soeren S Lienkamp^1,2

¹Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

Physiology (Bethesda, Md.)

|March 7, 2022

Summary

Understanding embryonic kidney development is crucial. New technologies like single-cell transcriptomics and advanced imaging offer novel insights into this complex organ formation process.

Keywords:

imaging kidney development marker genes microscopy single-cell analysis

More Related Videos

Efficient Vascularization of Kidney Organoids through Intracelomic Transplantation in Chicken Embryos

Efficient Vascularization of Kidney Organoids through Intracelomic Transplantation in Chicken Embryos

Published on: February 17, 2023

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

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

Published on: February 4, 2015

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 1, 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

Efficient Vascularization of Kidney Organoids through Intracelomic Transplantation in Chicken Embryos

Efficient Vascularization of Kidney Organoids through Intracelomic Transplantation in Chicken Embryos

Published on: February 17, 2023

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

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

Published on: February 4, 2015

Area of Science:

Developmental Biology
Organogenesis
Nephrology

Background:

The kidney is a vital organ whose formation during embryonic development is intricate.
Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying kidney development is essential for addressing congenital kidney diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the application of cutting-edge technologies in studying embryonic kidney development.
To provide new perspectives on the complex processes involved in forming the kidney.

Main Methods:

Utilizing single-cell transcriptomics to analyze gene expression at a high resolution.
Employing enhanced imaging modalities for detailed visualization of developmental processes.

Main Results:

These advanced techniques allow for a deeper understanding of cellular differentiation and tissue patterning during kidney formation.
New insights into the signaling pathways and cellular interactions governing embryonic kidney development have been gained.

Conclusions:

Single-cell transcriptomics and enhanced imaging are powerful tools for unraveling the complexities of embryonic kidney development.
Future research can leverage these technologies to investigate kidney development further and identify potential therapeutic targets for kidney disorders.