Renal capsule

Looks like

A thin, tough fibrous skin wrapping each kidney, surrounded by a cushion of fat.

What it does

Protects the kidney and holds its shape.

Keeping it well

Because it does not stretch, a swollen or bleeding kidney stretches it and hurts in the flank. A blood clot trapped under it after injury can squeeze the kidney and raise blood pressure (Page kidney).

Related conditions

• Acute kidney injury
• Amyloidosis (AL and ATTR)
• Chronic kidney disease
• Dehydration & electrolyte disorders
• Diabetes insipidus (arginine vasopressin deficiency)
• Diabetic ketoacidosis
• Glomerulonephritis
• Haemolytic uraemic syndrome
• Hantavirus infection
• High blood pressure
• Hydronephrosis
• Hyperparathyroidism
• IgA nephropathy
• Kidney cancer
• Kidney infection
• Kidney stones
• Lead poisoning
• Leptospirosis (Weil's disease)
• Nephrotic syndrome
• Poisoning & overdose
• Polycystic kidney disease
• Pre-eclampsia
• Renal artery stenosis
• Rhabdomyolysis
• SIADH (inappropriate antidiuretic hormone)
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)
• Toxic shock syndrome
• Tuberous sclerosis complex
• Vesicoureteral reflux
• Wilms tumour (nephroblastoma)
• Yellow fever