FUNCTIONAL ANATOMY OF THE KIDNEY
The kidneys are described as being retroperitoneal in location, reflecting their position outside the peritoneal cavity. The kidneys of most animals are roughly bean-shaped, with exceptions among domestic animals like the heart-shaped kidney in equines and the distinctively lobulated kidneys present in cattle.
The kidneys are present in the dorsal part of the abdominal cavity on each side of the aorta and caudal vena cava, just ventral to the first few lumbar vertebrae. In most domestic animals, the right kidney is slightly more cranial than the left kidney. The left kidney tends to be more pendulous, especially in ruminants, where the fore-stomach may push the left kidney towards the right, particularly when the rumen is full. The entire kidney is surrounded by a tough connective tissue capsule.
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