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Updated: Aug 29, 2025
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Author Spotlight: Developing a Bedside Protocol for Kidney and Genitourinary Ultrasonography
Published on: June 21, 2024
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Kidney surface development in human fetuses: study applied to radiological diagnosis
Luciano A Favorito1, Marcio Luiz P Lobo1, Ana Vitória Fernandes1
1Unidade de Pesquisa Urogenital - Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro - Uerj, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Summary
The number of kidney clefts in human fetuses varies greatly during the second trimester, with no significant sex-based differences. However, the right kidney
Area of Science:
- Anatomy
- Developmental Biology
- Human Embryology
Background:
- The fetal kidney undergoes significant development during gestation.
- Understanding the anatomical surface features of the fetal kidney is crucial for assessing normal development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the anatomical characteristics of the human fetal kidney surface.
- To analyze the number of renal clefts and renal volume in fetuses during the second gestational trimester.
Main Methods:
- A total of 108 kidneys from 54 human fetuses (11.4 to 23 weeks post-conception) were studied.
- Kidneys were dissected to count renal clefts and assess renal volume.
- Statistical analysis included Student's t-test and simple linear correlations.
Main Results:
- Renal volume varied between 0.07 to 2.416 cm³.
- The mean number of renal clefts was 15.25 (range: 7–28).
- No significant differences in cleft numbers were found between sexes or between right and left kidneys.
Conclusions:
- Renal clefts exhibit high variability and weak correlation with fetal age during the second trimester.
- A significant developmental relationship with age was observed for the number of clefts in the right kidney of the total sample and female fetuses.
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