What is the outer portion of the kidney called?

What is the outer portion of the kidney called?

• A. Cortex
• B. Medulla
• C. Pelvis
• D. Hilum

Answer: (A)

The outer portion of the kidney is the cortex. This lighter, outer layer surrounds the inner medulla and contains much of the nephron’s structure, including the glomeruli where filtration begins and parts of the proximal and distal tubules. Deeper inside is the medulla, organized into renal pyramids, which handle urine concentration and drainage. The pelvis is a collecting chamber within the kidney that drains into the ureter, and the hilum is the inward-facing notch on the kidney’s medial border where vessels and the ureter enter or exit. So, the outer layer you’re identifying is the cortex.

The outer portion of the kidney is the cortex. This lighter, outer layer surrounds the inner medulla and contains much of the nephron’s structure, including the glomeruli where filtration begins and parts of the proximal and distal tubules. Deeper inside is the medulla, organized into renal pyramids, which handle urine concentration and drainage. The pelvis is a collecting chamber within the kidney that drains into the ureter, and the hilum is the inward-facing notch on the kidney’s medial border where vessels and the ureter enter or exit. So, the outer layer you’re identifying is the cortex.