Radiologic Technologist Practice Exam

Through which anatomical structure do blood vessels, ureters, nerves, and lymphatic vessels enter and exit the kidney?

1. Renal cortex

2. Renal corpuscle

3. Hilum

4. Renal pelvis

The correct answer is: Hilum

The anatomical structure through which blood vessels, ureters, nerves, and lymphatic vessels enter and exit the kidney is the hilum. The hilum is a concave region located on the medial side of the kidney where these essential structures connect with the organ. At the hilum, the renal artery supplies blood to the kidney, while the renal vein drains blood away. The ureters, which carry urine formed in the kidney to the bladder, also emerge from this area. Additionally, nerves and lymphatic vessels associated with renal function travel through the hilum, integrating the kidney with the body's overall systemic and nervous systems. Understanding the significance of the hilum in renal anatomy provides insight into how the kidneys maintain homeostasis by regulating fluid and electrolyte balance, as well as how they are connected to both the circulatory and urinary systems. This central entry and exit point highlights the importance of the hilum in facilitating the kidney's critical functions.