Final answer:
The region in the kidney that subdivides to form two or three major calyces and several minor calyces is the renal pelvis. It collects urine from the collecting ducts and passes it on to the ureters.
Step-by-step explanation:
The region that subdivides to form two or three major calyces and several minor calyces is the renal pelvis. Located in the region called the hilum of the kidney, the renal pelvis is a funnel-shaped space where urine collects before entering the ureters. Branching off from the renal pelvis are the major calyces, which further subdivide into minor calyces. These cup-like calyces receive urine from the collecting ducts of the nephrons. The tips of the renal pyramids, known as renal papillae, point towards and empty into these minor calyces.
The renal pyramids and associated structures such as the renal papillae, renal tubules, and collecting ducts all play important roles in the filtering and excretion processes of the kidneys. As urine is formed, it passes through a complex network within the kidney before reaching the minor and then major calyces, and eventually draining into the ureters through the renal pelvis.