Renal capsule
1. Parenchyma 2. Cortex 3. Medulla 4. Perirenal fat 5. Renal capsule 6. Ureter 7. Pelvis of kidney 8. Renal artery and Renal vein 9. Renal hilum 10. Calyx
Transverse section, showing the relations of the capsule of the kidney. (Labeled as "adipose capsule".)
Latin	capsula adiposa renis, capsula fibrosa renis
Gray's	subject #253 1220

The renal capsule is a tough fibrous layer surrounding the kidney and covered in a thick layer of perinephric adipose tissue. It provides some protection from trauma and damage.

The renal capsule relates to the other layers in the following order (moving from innermost to outermost):

1. renal medulla
2. renal cortex
3. renal capsule
4. perinephric fat (or "perirenal fat")
5. renal fascia
6. paranephric fat (or "pararenal fat")
7. peritoneum (anteriorly), and transversalis fascia (posteriorly).

Adipose capsule

The perinephric fat may be regarded as a part of the renal capsule, called the adipose capsule of kidney.

Additional images

• 

  Frontal section through the kidney

See also

• Renal medulla
• Renal pyramid
• Renal artery
• Renal vein

References

External links

• Anatomy at PSU urogen/dissectkidney2
• Human anatomy at Dartmouth figures/chapter_29/29-5.HTM

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