Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Point-of-Care Kidney and Genitourinary Ultrasound in Adults: Image Acquisition
Published on: June 21, 2024
Pelvic Kidney With Contralateral Renal Vascular Variants: A Rare Anatomical Case From Djibouti
Rahma Abdillahi1, Saredo Aganeh2, Wassim Guermazi1
1Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, TUN.
Abstract:
A pelvic kidney is a rare congenital renal ectopia frequently associated with vascular anomalies. Knowledge of these variations is essential for diagnostic evaluation and surgical planning. We report the case of a 35-year-old man in whom a right pelvic kidney with unusual vascular variations was detected on computed tomography urography. A single renal artery arising from the anterior aspect of the aortic bifurcation supplied the ectopic kidney, which was drained by three right renal veins. In addition, the contralateral kidney, located in its normal anatomical position, also exhibited vascular variations, including two left renal arteries and two left renal veins. Pelvic kidneys are often associated with complex vascular patterns, as demonstrated here. Therefore, knowledge of these anatomical variations is crucial for accurate diagnosis and for safe surgical or interventional procedures, particularly in the management of renal vascular diseases and in the context of kidney transplantation.
Related Concept Videos
External Anatomy of the Kidney
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...
Internal Anatomy of the Kidney
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...
Kidney Structure
Anatomy of the Genitourinary System I: Kidneys and Ureters
Imaging Studies I: Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder Studies
Renal Corpuscle
Glomerulus: Structure and Function
The glomerulus is a tiny, intricate network of capillaries located at the beginning of the nephron. It's enveloped by the Bowman's capsule and receives its blood supply from an afferent arteriole, which divides into numerous capillaries...

