THE ANATOMY OF THE KIDNEY. 353 



derived from the hepatic plexus, and entwine around the vessels. 



The lymphatics follow the cystic duct, and join the lymphatics on lymphatics. 



the under surface of the liver. 



THE KIDNEYS AND THE URETERS. 



Dissection. The student will now return to the abdomen, and 

 thoroughly clean up the kidneys and the suprarenal bodies and their 

 vessels, removing the fat and enveloping areolar tissue, which is parti- 

 cularly strong at the upper part of each kidney where it passes on to 

 the diaphragm. Care should be taken not to injure the suprarenal 

 bodies, which somewhat resemble the fat. After the anterior surface 

 of the left kidney has been examined, its vessels will be cut through 

 about an inch from the hilum, and the kidney, with the upper 

 four inches of the ureter, removed for separate examination. The 

 parts behind the kidney will then be cleaned, taking care of the 

 anterior divisions of the last dorsal and first lumbar nerves as they 

 cross outwards over the quadratus lumborum muscle. 



The KIDNEYS have a characteristic form (fig. 134 and fig. 135, Kidney: 

 p. 354), resembling an oval with one side (the inner) somewhat 

 hollowed out, and they are compressed from before backwards. 



With the special form above mentioned, each kidney is of a deep Colour; 

 red colour, and has an even surface. Its average length is about four size; 

 inches ; its breadth two and a half inches ; and its thickness rather 

 more than one inch ; but the left is commonly longer and more 

 slender than the right kidney. Its usual weight is about four ounces and weight, 

 and a half in the male, and rather less in the female. The left 

 kidney is slightly heavier than the right. 



The upper extremity or pole, of the kidney is broader than the Extremi- 

 lower, and is in contact with a suprarenal body. The lower pole is 16S ' 

 more pointed. 



The outer border is convex ; but the inner is excavated, and is borders, 

 marked by a longitudinal fissure the hilum. In the fissure the Contents of 

 vessels are usually placed so that the divisions of the renal vein are 

 in front, the ureter behind, and the branches of the artery between position 

 the. two. On the vessels, the nerves and lymphatics ramify; and 

 areolar tissue and fat surround the whole. The fissure leads into 

 a hollow named the sinus, in which the vessels and the duct are Sinus, 

 contained before they pierce the renal substance. 



For the purpose of distinguishing between the right and the left To distin. 

 kidneys, let the excavated margin be turned inwards, with the ureter from i 

 or excretory tube behind the other vessels ; and let that end of the 

 viscus be directed downwards, towards which the ureter is naturally 

 inclined. 



The surface marking of the kidneys has been described on p. 306. 

 They lie opposite the last dorsal and the upper two or three 

 lumbar vertebrae ; the right kidney being somewhat lower than 

 the left. Both overlie the twelfth rib in their upper part ; the Position, 

 upper pole of the right kidney reaches above that rib and the 

 upper pole of the left commonly overlies the eleventh rib. 

 D.A. A A 



