ROLE Of COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY IN PATIENTS WITH RENAL TRAUMA

Abstract

The kidneys lie one on each side of the spinal column, usually beside the bodies of the 12111 thoracic to the 3rd lumbar vertebrae. However, there is enough variation in position and shape to make it difficult to determine exactly what is normal. Movement from the supine to the erect position and motions of breathing may shift the normal kidney as much as 5 em (the length of one lumber vertebra). Because of the size and position of the liver. The right kidney usually is 1-2 em lower than the left. (lJ The kidneys are not situated parallel and vertical , but the upper poles are tilted slightly towards one another, probably because ofthe kidney position in relation to the muscles of the posterior abdominal wall. As the kidneys are situated in a shallow trough (the renal niche) just lateral to the vertebral column and its enclosing muscles. Their medial borders are tilted forward on the edges of the psoas muscles, therefore, each kidney is rotated so that the medial border faces slightly anteriorly and lateral border slightly posteriorly.(2) At autopsy, the average adult kidney is approximately 12-cm long,

6-cm wide and 3-cm thick. On excretory urography however, the kidneys appear to be much larger, having a mean length, in the adult man, of 12.9- cm on the right and 13.2- em on the left. ln part, this is a consequence of magnification of approxiniately 10% (more in obese persons) by the radiographic process. The diuresis accompanying urography can also lengthen the kidneys 1em or more. The posterior renal surface is flatter than the rounded convex anterior surface.