1262 



THE URO-GENITAL SYSTEM. 



lateral side of the quadratus luinborum muscle. The lateral border is narrowest 

 above, and widest just below its. middle point, corresponding to the greater 

 thickness of the kidney at this level. 



In many ways it would be more satisfactory to apply the term facies muscularis 

 or muscular surface collectively to the areas above described as " posterior surface " 

 and " lateral border " ; in like manner the term facies visceralis, or visceral surface 

 might be suitably applied to the so-called anterior surface of the organ. The ed^e 

 separating the visceral from the muscular surface is the actual lateral edge or 

 border of the kidney. 



Anterior Relations and the Anterior Surface of the Kidney. The anterior 

 relations of the kidneys not only differ on the two sides of the body, but also many 



Inferior vena cava 



Right inferior phrenic artery | Coeliac arter.v 

 Right suprarenal gland 



Right renal vein j 

 Genito-femoral nerve . 

 Right ureter , \ 

 Internal spermatic vein 

 Ilio-hypogastric nerve 



Ilio-inguinal nerve 



Superior mesenteric artery 

 , Left crus of diaphragm 



, Medial lumbo- costal arch 

 Diaphragm 



Psoas major 



Lateral lum bo-costal arch 

 uadratus lumborum 

 Transversus abdominis 



Lateral cutaneous nerve of thigh Iliacus 



External iliac artery j : External iliac artery 



Hypogastric artery 1 Hypogastric artery 



Common iliac artery 1 

 Internal spermatic artery Inferior mesenteric artery 



FIG. 983. DISSECTION TO SHOW THE KELATIONSHIPS OF TEE KIDNETS AND OF THE URETERS 



TO THE MUSCLES OF THE POSTERIOR ABDOMINAL WALL. 



of the structures related to the anterior surface of each kidney undergo frequent 

 changes in position during life. Hence it is not possible to give more than a 

 general account of the anterior relationships of the kidneys. 



Right Kidney. A small area on the superior part of the anterior surface of 

 the right kidney is in relation to the corresponding suprarenal gland (Fig. 983). 

 The rest of the superior part of the anterior surface is in contact with the visceral 

 surface of the liver, which is often hollowed out to form a fossa for the kidney. 

 The suprarenal gland is bound to the kidney by connective tissue, while the 

 part of the kidney in relation to the liver is, like the liver itself, covered by 

 peritoneum, and thus the two organs, although closely applied, are really separated 

 by a part of the general peritoneal cavity. Immediately anterior to the inferior end 

 of the right kidney are usually found two parts of the alimentary canal namely, 

 the descending part of the duodenum and the right flexure of the colon, or the 



