Overview

Metabolic waste products and also the extra amount of water are excreted through the kidney.1 Functions of the kidney are vital for the upkeep of water and electrolyte balance as well as controlling the concentration of various substances in the human body.2 Bean shaped kidneys are situated within the upper part of abdominal cavity on each side of the vertebral column. The kidneys are embedded within the adipose tissue which acts as cushion. A fibrous connective tissue membrane called renal fascia covers the kidney with adipose tissuewhich helps to hold the kidneys in situ.3 Because of larger size of right lobe of liver right kidney lies at a rather lower level than the leftkidney. With the respiratory movements of the diaphragm, each kidney moves about 2.5 cm up and down in an exceedingly vertical direction. In a person with poorly developed abdominal muscles at the end of deep inspiration, lower pole of right kidney can be palpated in the right lumbar region, while the normal left kidney is situated at a higher level than the right kidney and is not palpable.4 In the early embryonic life, both the kidneys develop in the pelvic region. Later they shift to a more cranial position in the abdomen. This ascent of kidney is due to diminution of body curvature as well as by the growth of body in lumbar and sacral regions. Definitive kidneys become functional at nearly 12 weeks of gestational age. During fetal life, the kidneys are not responsible for the excretion of waste products as this function is served by the placenta. During fetal life, urine is passed into the amniotic cavity and mixes with the amniotic fluid. The fluid is swallowed by the fetus and recycles through the kidneys.5 Morphological formation of human fetal kidney begins at 5 weeks of intrauterine life and continues up to the last month of third trimester of pregnancy.

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