Final answer:
The kidney is protected and stabilized by the renal fascia, adipose capsule, and renal capsule. These layers provide support, cushioning, and a protective barrier for the kidney's structure. The umbilical ligament is not involved in the kidney's protection.
Step-by-step explanation:
The structures that protect or stabilize each kidney are the renal fascia, the adipose capsule (also known as the perirenal fat capsule or renal fat pad), and the renal capsule. Together, these three layers provide cushioning and support for the kidney, secure it in place against the posterior abdominal wall, and offer a protective barrier. Specifically, the renal fascia is a tough connective tissue that anchors the kidneys and encapsulates the adipose tissue that surrounds the renal capsule, which directly covers the kidney itself.
Correcting a couple of misstatements in the options provided, the perirenal fat capsule should be referred to as the adipose capsule or renal fat pad, and its location is between the renal fascia and the renal capsule. It's important to note that the umbilical ligament is not associated with the kidney's protective layers.
The correct sequence a surgeon would encounter when reaching the minor calyces would be the renal fascia, adipose capsule, renal capsule, cortex, and medulla. As illustrated in Figure 41.5, these are the layers that would need to be cut through, from the most external to the deepest layer, to access the internal structures of the kidney.