POSITION OF THE KIDNEYS RELATIVE TO THE SPINE, WITH EMPHASIS ON CHILDREN

Abstract

In a series of 100 children from 7 days to 14½ years of age, it was found that in most cases the pelvis of the right kidney was at the level of L1-L2 (average L2), while the left pelvis lay in most cases between the lower half of L1 and the upper half of L2 (average: L1-Ĺ2 interspace). The right kidney was lower than the left in approximately two-thirds of the cases, the two kidneys were at the same level in one-third, and the left kidney was lower than the right in 6 per cent. When the two kidneys were not at the same level, the difference in their height relative to the spine usually was of one vertebral body or less, seldom more. The age and sex in childhood did not seem to influence significantly the position of the kidneys. Also, a review of data reported in adults showed no clear-cut evidence of any difference in location of the kidneys relative to the spine between children and adults.