Renal sinus
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
At the time the article was created Henry Knipe had no recorded disclosures.
View Henry Knipe's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Raymond Chieng had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Raymond Chieng's current disclosures- Renal sinuses
The renal sinus is a fat-filled compartment of the kidney.
On this page:
Gross anatomy
The renal sinus is a fatty compartment located within the medial aspect of the kidney. It communicates with the perinephric space. It contains the renal hilum and is bordered by renal parenchyma laterally.
Contents
renal artery and vein (major branches) 4
major and minor calyces 4
-
adipose tissue (main component) 4
increases with age and obesity
lymphatic channels 4
autonomic nerves
fibrous tissue (variable amount) 4
Variant anatomy
junctional parenchymal defects - allow connection of fat in the renal sinus with intraparenchymal fat; may present as a renal pseudotumor 3
hypertrophied column of Bertin - normal renal cortex projecting into the renal sinus; can present as a renal pseudotumor
Radiographic features
Ultrasound
Renal sinus appears hyperechoic compared to the renal parenchyma, contains blood vessels 3 The urothelium layer within the renal sinus also appears as hyperechoic. On longitudinal section, it appears as an oval shaped hyperechoic area. On transverse section, its shape becomes round 4. Evaluation of the renal sinus is important in identification of hydronephrosis and evaluation of filling defect found on intravenous urography (which can be due to tumors, blood clots, or non-radioopaque stones) 4.
Small renal calculi may be difficult to be differentiate from the hyperechoic renal sinus. Therefore, Time Gain Compensation (TGC) or Gain should be adjusted to a lower level to visualize the posterior acoustic shadowing casted by the renal calculi are visible 4.
Calcifications located at the junction of the renal sinus and medulla may represents calcifications of branches of renal artery 5.
Related pathology
References
- 1. Rha SE, Byun JY, Jung SE et-al. The renal sinus: pathologic spectrum and multimodality imaging approach. Radiographics. 2004;24 Suppl 1 (suppl_1): S117-31. doi:10.1148/rg.24si045503 - Pubmed citation
- 2. Imaging of Kidney Cancer. Springer. ISBN:3540211292. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 3. Radiological Imaging of the Kidney (Medical Radiology / Diagnostic Imaging). Springer. ISBN:B008BBMC8I. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 4. Rosenfield A, Taylor K, Dembner A, Jacobson P. Ultrasound of Renal Sinus: New Observations. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1979;133(3):441-8. doi:10.2214/ajr.133.3.441 - Pubmed
- 5. Sivakumar V, Vijayalakshmidevi B, Sarala S, Lakshmi A, Sivaramakrishna G. Renal Arterial Branch Calcification Mimicking Renal Calculi in Ultrasonography. Indian J Nephrol. 2009;19(1):37. doi:10.4103/0971-4065.50681 - Pubmed
Incoming Links
Related articles: Anatomy: Abdominopelvic
- skeleton of the abdomen and pelvis
- muscles of the abdomen and pelvis
- spaces of the abdomen and pelvis
- anterior abdominal wall
- posterior abdominal wall
- abdominal cavity
- pelvic cavity
- perineum
- abdominal and pelvic viscera
- gastrointestinal tract
- spleen
- hepatobiliary system
-
endocrine system
-
adrenal gland
- adrenal vessels
- chromaffin cells
- variants
- pancreas
- organs of Zuckerkandl
-
adrenal gland
-
urinary system
-
kidney
- renal pelvis
- renal sinus
- avascular plane of Brodel
-
variants
- number
- fusion
- location
- shape
- ureter
- urinary bladder
- urethra
- embryology
-
kidney
- male reproductive system
-
female reproductive system
- vulva
- vagina
- uterus
- adnexa
- Fallopian tubes
- ovaries
- broad ligament (mnemonic)
- variant anatomy
- embryology
- blood supply of the abdomen and pelvis
- arteries
-
abdominal aorta
- inferior phrenic artery
- celiac artery
- superior mesenteric artery
- middle suprarenal artery
- renal artery (variant anatomy)
- gonadal artery (ovarian artery | testicular artery)
- inferior mesenteric artery
- lumbar arteries
- median sacral artery
-
common iliac artery
- external iliac artery
-
internal iliac artery (mnemonic)
- anterior division
- umbilical artery
- superior vesical artery
- obturator artery
- vaginal artery
- inferior vesical artery
- uterine artery
- middle rectal artery
-
internal pudendal artery
- inferior rectal artery
-
perineal artery
- posterior scrotal artery
- transverse perineal artery
- artery to the bulb
- deep artery of the penis/clitoris
- dorsal artery of the penis/clitoris
- inferior gluteal artery
- posterior division (mnemonic)
- variant anatomy
- anterior division
-
abdominal aorta
- portal venous system
- veins
- anastomoses
- arterioarterial anastomoses
- portal-systemic venous collateral pathways
- watershed areas
- arteries
- lymphatics
- innervation of the abdomen and pelvis
- thoracic splanchnic nerves
- lumbar plexus
-
sacral plexus
- lumbosacral trunk
- sciatic nerve
- superior gluteal nerve
- inferior gluteal nerve
- nerve to piriformis
- perforating cutaneous nerve
- posterior femoral cutaneous nerve
- parasympathetic pelvic splanchnic nerves
- pudendal nerve
- nerve to quadratus femoris and inferior gemellus muscles
- nerve to internal obturator and superior gemellus muscles
- autonomic ganglia and plexuses
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.