Renal pelvis
The renal pelvis (or, more rarely, the renal infundibulum) forms part of the pelvicalyceal system of the kidney and is the connection between the calyces and the ureter.
Gross anatomy
The renal pelvis is triangular in shape, lies posteriorly in the renal hilum surrounded by fat and vessels and is formed by either the union of two-to-three major calyces or of seven-to-eleven minor calyces. Thus, the renal pelvis can have numerous shapes, ranging between an ampulla-like single renal pelvis to one made of numerous funnel-shapes, but all types taper down to continue as the ureter.
Variant anatomy
- extrarenal (renal) pelvis
- renal malrotation: results in anomalous position of the renal hilum
Related pathology
