ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY OF

THE KIDNEY
 ANATOMY OF THE KIDNEY
• Retroperitoneal from
T12 to L3.
• Right kidney is slightly
inferior than left.
• Shape : bean shaped
 RELATIONS
Posterior  Diaphragm
 Quadratus lumborum
 Psoas
 Transversus abdominis
 The 12th rib
 Nerves
Anterior Right
 Liver
 2nd part of duodenum
 Ascending colon

Left
 Stomach
 Pancreas
 Spleen
 Descending colon
Medial  Hilum
BLOOD SUPPLY TO KIDNEY
• Lymphatic drainage : follow renal vein and
drains into lumbar lymph node.
• Nerves : renal plexus consists of sympathetic
& parasympathetic fibers.
NEPHRON
 RENAL FUNCTIONS
• Regulate the total solute concentration of body
fluid
• Regulate the concentrations of electrolytes
• Acid-base balance
• Eliminate metabolic waste substance and foreign
compounds
• Erythropoietin
• Renin-angiotensin system
• Production of prostaglandin & thromboxane
• Vitamin D metabolism
GLOMERULAR FILTRATION BARRIER
• Filtration barrier has a high permeability to water & small
molecules but restricts the passage of macromolecules.
• Electrical charge also affects the passage of macromolecules
through the filtration barrier. The endothelial pores, basement
membrane and surface that coat the podocytes contain negatively
charge glycoproteins. These negatively charge elements impede the
filtration of negatively charged plasma protein such as albumin.
GLOMERULAR FILTRATION RATE (GFR)
• GFR is the volume of filtrate produced by
kidneys per minute.
• The normal GFR is 125 ml per min.
• If the GFR is too high, needed substance
cannot be reabsorbed and are lost in urine.
• If the GFR is too low, everything is reabsorbed,
causes the kidney to fail eliminating wastes.
FACTORS AFFECTING GFR