Question

Which of these statements regarding the kidney is NOT correct?

• A. Right kidney is preferred to the left for transplantation
• B. Right kidney is at a lower level than the left
• C. Right kidney is related to the duodenum in the anteromedial aspect
• D. Right renal vein is shorter than the left

Hint:

Surgeons prefer the kidney with the longer renal vein for an easier vascular join in the recipient.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Check the statement about kidney level.
The right kidney sits slightly lower than the left kidney because the large right lobe of the liver pushes down on it from above. This statement is correct.

Step 2: Check the statement about the duodenum.
The second (descending) part of the duodenum lies against the anteromedial surface of the right kidney, close to its hilum. This statement is correct.

Step 3: Check the statement about renal vein length.
The inferior vena cava lies close to the right side of the body, so the right renal vein only has a short distance to travel and is shorter than the left renal vein, which has to cross the midline. This statement is correct.

Step 4: Check the statement about transplantation.
For a live kidney transplant, the left kidney is usually the preferred one to remove and use, mainly because its longer renal vein makes the vessel much easier to stitch onto the recipient's vessels. Preferring the right kidney over the left is therefore not correct as a general statement.

Step 5: Final answer.
The statement that is NOT correct is that the right kidney is preferred to the left for transplantation. In practice, the opposite is true.