The outer, reddish region, next to the capsule, is the renal cortex. The ureter and renal vein leave the kidney, and the renal artery enters the kidney at the hilum. The hilum leads to a large cavity, called the renal sinus, within the kidney. It is roughly bean-shaped with an indentation, called the hilum, on the medial side.

In the adult, each kidney is approximately 3 cm thick, 6 cm wide, and 12 cm long. A tough, fibrous, connective tissue renal capsule closely envelopes each kidney and provides support for the soft tissue that is inside. Each kidney is held in place by connective tissue, called renal fascia, and is surrounded by a thick layer of adipose tissue, called perirenal fat, which helps to protect it. The kidneys, protected by the lower ribs, lie in shallow depressions against the posterior abdominal wall and behind the parietal peritoneum. The right kidney usually is slightly lower than the left because the liver displaces it downward. The paired kidneys are located between the twelfth thoracic and third lumbar vertebrae, one on each side of the vertebral column. The other components are accessory structures to eliminate the urine from the body. They are the organs that perform the functions of the urinary system. The kidneys are the organs that filter the blood, remove the wastes, and excrete the wastes in the urine. The kidneys are the primary organs of the urinary system.

Functional unit of the kidney