Editing Open Kidney Surgery (section)

== Anatomic considerations ==

* '''Review anatomy for'''
**[[Abdominal Wall]]
**[[Kidneys]]
*'''Critical landmark structures for kidney surgery'''
** '''Right (4):'''
**# '''Liver'''
**# '''Duodenum'''
**# '''Ascending colon'''
**# '''Inferior vena cava'''
** '''Left (4):'''
**# '''Spleen'''
**# '''Tail of the pancreas'''
**# '''Descending colon'''
**# '''Aorta'''
*'''Abdominal and Chest Wall'''
** Intercostal space is the anatomic space between two ribs. Since there are 12 ribs on each side, there are 11 intercostal spaces, each numbered for the rib superior to it
**'''Intercostal nerves emerge from below the costal margin and run between the layers of the internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscles'''
**'''Pleural cavity'''
***'''The inferior limit of the pleural cavity may lie anywhere between the 10th and 12th ribs.''' 
****'''Access through the 10th or 11th intercostal space (above the 11th or 12th rib) requires careful mobilization of the lower edge of the pleura to avoid entering it'''
****'''Access through the 9th intercostal space (above the 10th rib) inevitably requires entry into the pleural cavity'''
** Rectus abdominis
***Blood supply
****Upper rectus muscle is supplied by the superior epigastric artery, which originates from the inferior mammary artery
**** Lower rectus muscle is supplied by inferior epigastric artery, which originates from external iliac artery
*Retroperitoneal space
**Lined posteriorly by the transversalis fascia, a thin layer posterior to the abdominal wall muscles and posterior to the posterior pararenal fat