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Perirenal Fat Capsule
Connective Tissue

Perirenal Fat Capsule

Capsula adiposa perirenalis

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Structure/Morphology

The perirenal fat is composed of adipose tissue that surrounds the kidneys and the suprarenal glands. It envelopes the fibrous capsules and is held tight around the organs via the renal fascia. This fat is typically more solid than normal fat.

In neonates, the perirenal fat capsule has a brown appearance due to the number of iron-containing mitochondria. However, the brown adipose tissue is thought to diminish gradually over the first ten years of life (Cantisani et al., 2003).

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Anatomical Relations

The perirenal fat capsule is superjacent to the capsule of the suprarenal gland and kidney and is subjacent to the renal fascia which tightly wraps it around the organs.

Function

The perirenal fat capsule serves numerous functions. It provides both protection and structural support to the kidneys and suprarenal glands, by stabilizing their anatomical position. Its primary function is yet to be fully elucidated but is thought to play a role in thermoregulation; generating heat via non-shivering thermogenesis due to its rich vascular supply.

List of Clinical Correlates

—Nephroptosis

References

Cantisani, V., Mortele, K. J., Glickman, J. N., Ricci, P., Passariello, R., Ros, P. R. & Silverman, S. G. (2003) Large retroperitoneal hibernoma in an adult male: CT imaging findings with pathologic correlation. Abdom Imaging, 28(5), 721-4.

Dorland, W. (2011) Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary. 32nd edn. Philadelphia, USA: Elsevier Sauders.

Learn more about this topic from other Elsevier products

Perirenal Fat

ScienceDirect image

Perirenal fat is located around the kidneys and the adrenal glands, and is separated from the pararenal fat in the retroperitoneal space by a condensed, membranous layer of renal fascia.

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