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

69.6K
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.
69.6K
External Anatomy of the Kidney01:21

External Anatomy of the Kidney

1.0K
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...
1.0K
Internal Anatomy of the Kidney01:12

Internal Anatomy of the Kidney

1.6K
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...
1.6K
Introduction to Urinary System01:13

Introduction to Urinary System

2.5K
The urinary system consists of two kidneys, two ureters, the urinary bladder, and the urethra.
The kidneys are bean-shaped organs located in the retroperitoneal space, on either side of the vertebral column, between the T12 and L3 vertebrae. They are partially protected by the rib cage and surrounded by perirenal fat, which provides cushioning. They are responsible for urine formation and play critical roles in regulating blood pressure, electrolyte levels, and hormone production. The ureters...
2.5K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Pathologic evaluation of pig kidney and heart xenografts: 2024 recommendations from the Banff Xenotransplantation Pathology Working Group.

American journal of transplantation : official journal of the American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons·2026
Same author

Xenotransplantation in living human recipients: Where we stand in 2026: Vital Insights into Xenotransplantation.

American journal of transplantation : official journal of the American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons·2026
Same author

Challenges and perspectives in xenoliver research: lessons from decedent and primate models.

Frontiers in transplantation·2026
Same author

Xenotransplantation Literature Update: July-December 2025.

Xenotransplantation·2026
Same author

Selective impact on regulatory T cells with sustained functional phenotypes by the interleukin-2 mutein VIS171 in a nonhuman primate model.

American journal of transplantation : official journal of the American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons·2026
Same author

Back-to-base Versus In-transit Machine Perfusion in Donation After Circulatory Death Liver Transplantation: Insights From a National Registry.

Transplantation direct·2026
Same journal

KDIGO Life Cycle of Guideline Development Series Part 6: Bridging the Gap between Guidelines and Clinical Practice: The KDIGO Approach to Global Implementation and Education in Nephrology.

Kidney international·2026
Same journal

KDIGO Life Cycle of Guideline Development Series Part 5: Guideline updates and a living model for the future.

Kidney international·2026
Same journal

Crystal-storing histiocytosis causing severe acute kidney injury.

Kidney international·2026
Same journal

Peritoneal dialysis in a patient with extensive burn scarring.

Kidney international·2026
Same journal

COPA syndrome unmasked by anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-positive immune-complex nephritis.

Kidney international·2026
Same journal

Monitoring anti-nephrin antibodies in the management of recurrent diffuse podocytopathy.

Kidney international·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 28, 2025

Orthotopic Kidney Auto-Transplantation in a Porcine Model Using 24 Hours Organ Preservation And Continuous Telemetry
07:58

Orthotopic Kidney Auto-Transplantation in a Porcine Model Using 24 Hours Organ Preservation And Continuous Telemetry

Published on: August 21, 2020

7.2K

A pig kidney supporting human physiology.

Stuart J Knechtle1, Joseph M Ladowski1, Jean Kwun1

  • 1Department of Surgery, Duke University, School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA.

Kidney International
|April 20, 2024
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Kidney xenotransplantation shows promise for patients with kidney failure. A study demonstrated a pig kidney successfully supported a brain-dead human for 7 days, offering hope for overcoming donor organ shortages.

More Related Videos

Heterotopic Renal Autotransplantation in a Porcine Model: A Step-by-Step Protocol
11:47

Heterotopic Renal Autotransplantation in a Porcine Model: A Step-by-Step Protocol

Published on: February 21, 2016

11.9K
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

559

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 28, 2025

Orthotopic Kidney Auto-Transplantation in a Porcine Model Using 24 Hours Organ Preservation And Continuous Telemetry
07:58

Orthotopic Kidney Auto-Transplantation in a Porcine Model Using 24 Hours Organ Preservation And Continuous Telemetry

Published on: August 21, 2020

7.2K
Heterotopic Renal Autotransplantation in a Porcine Model: A Step-by-Step Protocol
11:47

Heterotopic Renal Autotransplantation in a Porcine Model: A Step-by-Step Protocol

Published on: February 21, 2016

11.9K
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

559

Area of Science:

  • Transplantation Biology
  • Nephrology
  • Surgical Innovation

Background:

  • Global donor kidney shortage necessitates alternative solutions for kidney failure patients.
  • Xenotransplantation, using animal organs, is a potential strategy to address this critical need.
  • Decedent models offer valuable insights for advancing clinical xenotransplantation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the physiological function and viability of a transplanted porcine kidney in a human recipient.
  • To evaluate the potential of xenotransplantation as a life-sustaining treatment for kidney failure.
  • To gather data complementing preclinical studies for clinical kidney xenotransplantation development.

Main Methods:

  • Transplantation of a genetically modified porcine kidney into a brain-dead human model.
  • Monitoring of key physiological parameters to assess kidney function.
  • Utilizing decedent models to simulate and study xenotransplantation outcomes.

Main Results:

  • The transplanted porcine kidney demonstrated sustained life-sustaining physiological function for 7 days.
  • The study provided evidence of successful integration and function in a human recipient.
  • Data collected supports the feasibility of porcine kidney xenotransplantation.

Conclusions:

  • Porcine kidney xenotransplantation can achieve life-sustaining physiological function in a human model.
  • Decedent models are valuable for evaluating xenotransplantation efficacy and safety.
  • This research contributes to the development of clinical kidney xenotransplantation strategies.