26 



SUPERFICIAL ANATOMY OF THE TRUNK. 



The kidneys, being situated at the back of the abdominal cavity, are not to be 

 felt under normal conditions, or at most the right is at times to be detected. They 

 are lodged on each side mainly in the epigastric and hypochondriac regions. That 

 of the right side usually extends slightly into the umbilical and lumbar regions ; 

 but on the left side the organ is frequently altogether above the infracostal plane. 



Fig. 12. DETERMINATION OF THE POSITION OF THE KIDNEYS ON THE FRONT OF THE BODY : SCHEME. 



(R. J. G. ar,dG. D. T.) 



The inferior pole of the kidney is about two and a half to three inches (6 7 cm.) 

 from the median plane, and on the right side is about an inch (2 3 cm.) above the 

 level of the umbilicus, while on the left side it is in the'majority of cases about half 

 an inch (1 2 cm.) higher. The length of the kidney being generally from four to 

 four and a half inches (10 12 cm.), the position of the superior pole is indicated 

 by a spot a corresponding distance above the level of the inferior pole, and about 

 two inches (5 cm.) from the middle line. This spot is above the margin of the 

 thorax, and is generally over the sixth or seventh costal cartilage, about the place 

 where the interchondral articulation is formed between these cartilages. The 

 shortest distance between the two kidneys, at the upper part of their mesial borders, 



