Final answer:
The right kidney is located slightly lower than the left kidney due to the presence of the liver. Urine formed in the kidney drains into the renal pelvis, then narrows into the ureter. The ureters then transfer urine to the bladder, preventing reflux back into the ureters.
Step-by-step explanation:
Anatomy and Physiology of the Kidney
The right kidney is located slightly lower than the left due to the presence of the liver. Each kidney acts as a filter for the blood, removing waste and excess substances, which are excreted as urine.
Urine formation begins in the functional units of the kidney, the nephrons, and then drains into the calyces, which merge to form the funnel-shaped renal pelvis.
This structure is found at the hilum of each kidney. The renal pelvis then narrows and becomes the ureter of each kidney.
When considering the extension of the right kidney into the pelvis, it's important to address its relation to other anatomical structures.
The kidneys are retroperitoneal, meaning they are located behind the peritoneum that lines the abdominal cavity, well protected by muscle, fat, and ribs.
The ureters are the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder. As the ureters enter the pelvis, they sweep laterally and then turn medially and pierce the bladder wall obliquely.
This creates a one-way valve that allows urine into the bladder but prevents reflux back into the ureters, which is important for preventing infections like vesicoureteral reflux.