The diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the kidney, amenable to direct surgical interference / by W. Bruce Clarke.

  • Clarke, W. Bruce (William Bruce)
Date:
1886
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the kidney, amenable to direct surgical interference / by W. Bruce Clarke. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    The Anatomical Situation of the Kidneys, AND THE Abnormalities that are of Surgical Importance. SITUATION OF THE KIDNEYS—The kidneys are situated deep down in the abdomen on its posterior surface {vide Plates I. and II.), being on a level with the last rib, sometimes with the last two, and extend- ing downwards to the two or three upper lumbar vertebrae. They rest upon the diaphragm, and upper part of the psoas and quadratus lumborum. The right lies slightly lower down than the left. It is, however, very important to bear in mind that the exact extent to which either kidney passes below the last rib varies considerably in different individuals, so also is the distance of the last rib from the crest of the ilium subject to much variation. In some cases the space between these two bones is as much as three or four inches, whilst in others, even when the body is as much bent over to the opposite side as it can be under the influence of an anaesthetic, the interval in question is less than two fingers' breadth. The exact size of the kidneys is a matter with which the surgeon should make himself familiar, for any deviation from their average size which is encountered B