Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Kidney Structure01:45

Kidney Structure

70.9K
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.
70.9K
Veins of Thorax01:19

Veins of Thorax

1.3K
The azygos system is a crucial part of the body's circulatory system and drains most of the thorax. It comprises the azygos, hemiazygos, and accessory hemiazygos veins.
The azygos vein, positioned just right of the midline and anterior to the vertebral column, begins at the junction of the right ascending lumbar and subcostal veins, terminating in the superior vena cava. This vein drains blood from the right side of the thoracic wall, thoracic viscera, and posterior abdominal wall.
The...
1.3K
External Anatomy of the Kidney01:21

External Anatomy of the Kidney

1.8K
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...
1.8K
Gross Anatomy of the Lungs01:17

Gross Anatomy of the Lungs

2.8K
The lungs are a pair of vital organs connected to the trachea via the left and right bronchi. The base of these organs meets the dome-shaped muscle known as the diaphragm. Encased by the pleurae, the lungs contact the mediastinum. The right lung is shorter yet wider, and has a larger volume than the left lung. The left lung has an indentation known as the cardiac notch. The superior region of the lungs is referred to as the apex, whereas the base is the lower region near the diaphragm. The...
2.8K
Veins of the Abdomen and Pelvis01:18

Veins of the Abdomen and Pelvis

1.0K
The human body is a complex system of interconnected parts, and the circulatory system plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health. One key component of this system is the inferior vena cava, a large vein responsible for returning blood from the abdominopelvic viscera and abdominal walls to the heart.
The inferior vena cava is fed by numerous smaller veins. The lumbar veins, for instance, drain the posterior abdominal wall, emptying both directly into the inferior vena cava and into the...
1.0K
Internal Anatomy of the Kidney01:12

Internal Anatomy of the Kidney

3.0K
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...
3.0K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Pigmented villonodular synovitis in the thoracic spine: a rare and under-recognized condition.

The Korean journal of internal medicine·2026
Same author

A double threat: CNS toxoplasmosis and CMV encephalitis in a heart transplant recipient

Revista de la Facultad de Ciencias Medicas (Cordoba, Argentina)·2026
Same author

Post-Traumatic Contusion of the Longus Colli Muscle: <i>An underdiagnosed entity</i>.

Sultan Qaboos University medical journal·2026
Same author

Brainstem hemorrhage secondary to retro-odontoid synovial cyst compression: an imaging diagnosis of a stroke mimic.

Journal of Yeungnam medical science·2026
Same author

Pre-transplant imaging evaluation in sickle cell disease: recommended protocols before allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Radiologia brasileira·2026
Same author

Synovitis detection in rheumatology: a systematic review and meta-analysis of contrast-enhanced ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging.

Sao Paulo medical journal = Revista paulista de medicina·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 29, 2025

Mouse Kidney Transplantation: Models of Allograft Rejection
16:15

Mouse Kidney Transplantation: Models of Allograft Rejection

Published on: October 11, 2014

21.0K

THORACIC KIDNEY THROUGH RIGHT BOCHDALEK FORAMEN.

Andrea Carla De Souza Contenças1, Lucas Ribeiro Dos Santos2, Márcio Luís Duarte3

  • 1Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine, Santos Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lusiada University, São Paulo, Brazil.

Portuguese Journal of Cardiac Thoracic and Vascular Surgery
|March 18, 2022
PubMed
Summary

Ectopic thoracic kidney, a rare condition, was found incidentally in an asymptomatic elderly woman. This rare renal ectopia typically requires no intervention unless severe complications arise.

More Related Videos

5/6 Nephrectomy Using Sharp Bipolectomy Via Midline Laparotomy in Rats
05:34

5/6 Nephrectomy Using Sharp Bipolectomy Via Midline Laparotomy in Rats

Published on: April 4, 2025

903
Orthotopic Liver Transplantation in Rats
18:25

Orthotopic Liver Transplantation in Rats

Published on: July 1, 2012

30.4K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Sep 29, 2025

Mouse Kidney Transplantation: Models of Allograft Rejection
16:15

Mouse Kidney Transplantation: Models of Allograft Rejection

Published on: October 11, 2014

21.0K
5/6 Nephrectomy Using Sharp Bipolectomy Via Midline Laparotomy in Rats
05:34

5/6 Nephrectomy Using Sharp Bipolectomy Via Midline Laparotomy in Rats

Published on: April 4, 2025

903
Orthotopic Liver Transplantation in Rats
18:25

Orthotopic Liver Transplantation in Rats

Published on: July 1, 2012

30.4K

Area of Science:

  • Medical Imaging
  • Urology
  • Anatomy

Background:

  • Renal ectopia is a congenital anomaly where the kidney is displaced from its normal anatomical position.
  • Ectopic thoracic kidney, specifically, is a rare variant, accounting for less than 5% of all renal ectopia cases.
  • This condition is often asymptomatic and discovered incidentally through imaging studies.

Observation:

  • An 81-year-old asymptomatic female patient presented with a heterogeneous opacity in the right hemithorax on X-ray.
  • Further imaging with ultrasonography confirmed the presence of a right kidney within the thoracic cavity.
  • Computed tomography (CT) precisely located the right kidney in the right hemithorax, herniating through a Bochdalek foramen.

Findings:

  • The case highlights an incidental diagnosis of ectopic thoracic kidney in an elderly female.
  • Imaging confirmed the kidney's abnormal thoracic location via a Bochdalek defect.
  • The patient remained asymptomatic, underscoring the typically benign nature of this malformation.

Implications:

  • Physicians should consider ectopic thoracic kidney in the differential diagnosis of thoracic opacities, especially in asymptomatic individuals.
  • Asymptomatic cases of ectopic thoracic kidney generally do not require treatment or invasive procedures.
  • Surgical intervention may be reserved for rare, severe cases or associated complications.