Is the renal space closed?

The aim of this study is to verify the aperture or the closure of the renal space. The study is undertaken on histological sections of fetuses in the horizontal and sagittal planes. On each side. the kidney and the suprarenal ,oland are disposed in a space that is closed on all sides. The anterior an d posterior layers of the renal fascia fuse at the upper pole of the space to become continuous with the inferior fascia of the diaphragm. Likewise, t hey merge at the lower pole and at the lateral border of the space to becom e continuous with the fasciae of the parietal muscles. At the medial border of the space, the two layers merge to continue medially with the peri-aort ocaval connective tissue; they penetrate the hilum and beneath it enclose t he ureter. Clin. Anat. 13:168-176, 2000. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.