1872 



HUMAN ANATOMY. 



assumes the character of a distinct fascia (fascia renalis), which at the outer border 

 of the organ spUts into an anterior and a posterior layer. The former passes in 

 front of the kidney, renal vessels, and ureter, and, crossing the great prevertebral 

 vascular trunks, joins the corresponding layer of the opposite side. Traced upward, 

 the anterior layer covers the suprarenal body, above this organ fusing with the pos- 

 terior layer of the renal fascia. The latter passes behind the kidney, over the fascia 

 covering the transversalis, quadratus, and psoas, as far as the inner border of the last 

 muscle, along which it becomes attached to the spine. The posterior layer extends 

 upward behind the suprarenal body, which, in conjunction with the anterior layer, 

 is completely invested on all sides except below, where it lies against the kidney, to 



Fig. T593. 



Diaphragm 



Spleen 

 XII rib 



Left kidney 



Descending colon 



Iliac crest 



Diaphragm 



t 



Ij Right suprarenal body 



Liver 



Right kidney 



■Ascending colon 

 ■Psoas muscle 



/ 



Posterior aspect of kidneys in situ in formalin subject; portion of posterior body-wall has been removed, as have 



been also parts of pleural sacs and diaphragm. 



the support of which organ it materially contributes. Although everywhere sepa- 

 rated from the fibrous tunic of the kidney by the intervening layer of fat {tunica 

 adiposa), the renal fascia is attached to the renal capsule proper by bands of con- 

 nective tissue, which are especially strong at the lower pole, thus directly affording 

 support to the organ. Behind, the posterior layer of the renal fascia is likewise 

 attached to the transversalis fascia by means of areolar tissue, between the connecting 

 bands of which a variable amount of fat is usually present. Above, beyond the 

 suprarenal body, the renal fascia fades away over the diaphragm ; below, it passes 

 into and is lost within the fatty subperitoneal tissue of the iliac fossa. 



The fixation of the left kidney is firmer than that of the right, greater security 

 being gained for the left organ in consequence of its more extensive relations to the 



