1874 



HUMAN ANATOMY. 



separated by an extension of the greater sac of the peritoneum. The second part of 

 the duodenum overlies the hilum and the inner renal border, the non-peritoneal area 

 being of uncertain extent in consequence of the variations in the position of this part of 

 the intestinal tube. Although covering usually about the middle two-fourths of the 

 median border, the duodenal area may embrace the entire inner third or more of the 

 anterior surface of the kidney, extending from the extreme upper to the lower pole ; 

 or, on the contrary, the duodenum may touch the kidney only near its lower pole. 

 The hepatic flexure occupies a triangular area, external to the adjoining duodenal 

 one and also non-peritoneal, which includes the outer and lower third, more or less, 

 of the anterior surface of the kidney. The extent and form of the surfaces of con- 

 tact between the kidney, colon, and duodenum are very variable ; when large they 

 may cover the entire lower half of the kidney, or when less extensive they may 

 leave uncovered the lower pole. In the latter case coils of the small intestine often 

 occupy this area, which is covered with peritoneum. 



The left kidney is in relation with the corresponding suprarenal body, the 

 spleen, the stomach, the pancreas, the splenic flexure of the colon, and the small in- 

 testine. The suprarenal body lies upon the median side of the upper pole, attached 



Fig. 1595. 



Suprarenal area (non-peritoneal) 



Hepatic area 

 (peritoneal; 



Suprarenal area (non-peritoneal) 



Gastric area 

 (peritoneal) 



Colic area 

 (non-peritoneal ) 



Jejunal area 

 (peritoneal) 



Duodenal area (non-peritoneal) 



kight renal duct 



Splenic area 

 (peritoneal) 



Pancreatic area 

 (non-peritoneal) 



Colic area 

 (non-peritoneal) 



Jejunal area 

 (peritoneal) 



Left renal duct (ureter) 



Inferior vena cava 

 Anterior surface of kidneys of formalin-hardened suDject, snowing visceral areas, blood-vessels, and renal ducts. 



by areolar tissue ; its area is therefore non-serous. The upper two-thirds of the 

 outer border and the adjacent part of the anterior surface of the kidney are covered 

 by the spleen, the peritoneum intervening, except within the narrow attachment of 

 the layers of the lieno-renal ligament. Below the splenic area the kidney is covered 

 to a variable extent by the splenic flexure of the colon, this non-peritoneal area 

 usually including the outer half of the lower pole. The pancreas lies in front of the 

 hilum and approximately the middle third of the kidney, frequently reaching as far 

 as the outer border. Above this non-peritoneal area, between the latter and the 

 suprarenal and splenic surfaces, lies the small triangular serous area which the stomach 

 touches, while below the pancreatic zone, internal to that for the splenic flexure, the 

 kidney presents a triangular peritoneal area over w.hich the coils of the jejunum glide. 



From the foregoing it is evident that each kidney rests within a depression, the 

 "renal fossa," formed by the structures with which it comes into contact above, 

 behind, at the sides, and below. The fossae are deeper and narrower in the male 

 than in the female, owing chiefly to the greater development of the muscles against 

 which the kidneys lie. 



The Renal Sinus. — The longitudinal, slit-like hilum, occupying somewhat less 

 than the middle third of the inner border of the kidney, opens into a more extensive 

 but shallow C-shaped space, the renal sinus, which, surrounded by the kidney-tissue, 



