THE SUPRAREXAL BODIES 



1013 



position in one or other loin; or, still more rarely, it may l)e triple, in whieli case 

 the additional gland is either lateral or median. 



4. In position. — One or both kidneys may be above or below the normal level, 

 in the latter and far more fretjiK'nt case encroaching upon the iliac iossa, or even 

 entering the true jjclvis in front of or behind the rectum; or the displacement may 

 lie horizontal, the organ lying ui)on the vertebral colunm ov even in the oi)i»osite loin. 



5. By fusion of the two kidneys; the union involving the lower extremities 

 only (' horseshoe ki<lney '), or the whole length of their iimer borders. 



6. In mobiliti/. — Undue mobility is usually, if not always, due to a laxity of 

 that portion of the subperitoneal tissue Avhich constitutes the fatty capsule; but a 

 peritoneal meso-nephron is said to have been seen in extremely rare cases of 

 movable kidney 



THE SUPRARENAL BODIES 



These structures do not form any i)art of the genito-urinary a])paratus. but it 

 is convenient to describe them in association with the glands l;y which they are 

 supported. 



The suprarenal bodies (fig. 615) are two solid viscera resting each upon the 

 upper extremity of the corresi)onding kidney and the adjoining ]xirts of its inner 

 and anterior surfaces, and bound to it by subperitoneal connective tissue. They 

 lie against the diaphragm opposite the eleventh rib, or tenth intercostal space, and 

 are separated from each other l)y a space of about two inches and a half. The left 

 is usually a little higher than the right, owing to the greater elevation of its kidney. 



Fig. G15. — I)ia(;kam sirowixo Antekior Rei.atioxs of Kidxkys axd Slpraeexal lioDiES. 



DUODENAL AREA 

 (NON-PERITONEAL) 



HEPATIC AREA 

 (NON-PERITONEAL) 



GASTRIC AREA 

 (PERITONEALl 



DUODENAL AREA 

 (NON-PERITONEAL) 



COLIC AREA 

 (NON-PERITONEAL) 



PERITONEAL AREA WITH RIGHT 

 COLIC VESSELS 



PERITONEAL AREA WITH LEFT 

 COLIC VESSELS 



PANCREATIC AREA 

 (NON-PERITONEAL) 



COLIC AREA OF 

 SPLEEN 



COLIC AREA 

 (NON-PERITONEAL) 



The organ varies widely in dimensions within ])hysiol(jgical limits. Its average 

 weight is about a drachm, its height an inch and a quarter (3 cm.), and its greatest 

 breadth at the ba.se an inch and throe-cpiarters (4.5 cm.). 



The /-/(/A^ suprarenal body is pyramidal in form with the apex directed upwards 

 and somewhat inwards. Its anterior surface is related above to a special 

 im]»ression upon the under and back ))art of the right lobe of the liver, between the 

 layers of the coronary ligament; internally to the inferior vena cava whicli slightly 

 overla])s it (Rolleston); and below is covenxl with peritoneum continuous with 

 that of tlie kidney, except at its internal inferior angle whore it is cro.^sed by the 

 hepatic flexure of the duodenum. It is rather firmly adherent to the liver, and the 

 vessels of the two organs anastomose with each other at tliis point. 



The left suprarenal body is a little larger than its fellow, somewhat cresei-ntic 

 in shape, and encroaches less upon the .summit of the kidney than the riglit. and 

 more upon the inner border, reaching even to the hilum. Its anterior surface is 



