Review: Anatomy of the Kidney & Ureter

Here is what we have learned from Anatomy of the Kidney & Ureter:

• Each kidney or ureter is considered a separate primary, unless bilateral involvement is stated to be metastatic from one side to the other
• The kidneys have two functional areas that are managed and staged independently, the kidney parenchyma and the renal pelvis.
• The ureters are the tubes that carry urine from the renal pelvis to the bladder. They are staged the same way as the renal pelvis.
• Layers of renal and ureteral walls include mucous membrane (mucosa), muscular coat (muscularis propria), and adventitia.
• The kidneys and ureters are located behind the peritoneal cavity (retroperitoneally), along the spinal column.