Kidney Structures

Renal Pelvis

The major function of the renal pelvis is to act as a funnel for urine flowing to the ureter. The renal pelvis is the location of several kinds of kidney cancer.

Medulla

The renal medulla is the innermost part of the kidney. The renal medulla is split up into a number of sections, known as the renal pyramids. Blood enters into the kidney via the renal artery, which then splits up to form the interlobular arteries.

Ureter

The ureter is the tube that carries urine from the kidney to the urinary bladder. In humans there are two ureters, one attached to each kidney.

Renal Artery

branches off of the aorta bringing waste-filled blood into the kidney for filtering in the nephrons; the renal artery is further subdivided into several branches inside the kidney. Each minute, the kidneys receive 20% of the blood pumped by the heart. Some arteries nourish the kidney cells themselves.

Calyx

extension of the renal pelvis; they channel urine from the pyramids to the renal pelvis

Renal Capsule

outer membrane that surrounds the kidney; it is thin but tough and fibrous

Renal Vein

removes the filtered blood from the kidneys to the inferior vena cava

Cortex

the outer region of the kidney; extensions of the cortical tissue, contains about one million blood filtering nephrons

Nephron

these are the filtration units in the kidneys