Renal Fascia

fascia renalis

The renal fascia, often called Gerota fascia, is a fibrous sheath that encloses each kidney, its adrenal gland and the surrounding perirenal fat. It has anterior and posterior layers that fuse above the adrenal gland and laterally, but remain open below along the ureter. It divides the retroperitoneum into perirenal and pararenal spaces.

Anatomical Data

Boundaries & Contents

Location	In the retroperitoneum, surrounding each kidney and adrenal gland.
Boundaries	Anterior and posterior layers fusing above the adrenal gland Lateral fusion forming the lateroconal fascia Open inferiorly along the ureter Posterior layer lying on psoas and quadratus lumborum fasciae
Contents	Kidney Adrenal gland Perirenal fat Renal vessels at the hilum Proximal ureter

Biomechanics

Function & Actions

Holds the kidney and adrenal in position and compartmentalises the retroperitoneum.

Clinical Relevance

Clinical Notes

The renal fascia contains bleeding and infection from the kidney, so a perinephric haematoma or abscess is usually held in the perirenal space. Because the fascial cone is open below, collections can track down toward the pelvis. Radical nephrectomy removes the kidney within intact renal fascia for cancer control.

Pathology

Common Injuries & Conditions

Perinephric Abscess

Infection spreading out of the kidney into the perirenal fat within the renal fascia, causing fever and flank pain and usually needing drainage.

Perinephric Haematoma

Bleeding around the kidney after trauma or biopsy, contained by the renal fascia, which helps tamponade the bleed.

Explore

More in Abdomen

Browse all of Abdomen →