Ectopic Pelvic Kidney

An ectopic kidney is one that is congenitally displaced and has never occupied a normal position. An ectopic pelvic kidney is one that is fixed within the bony pelvis or across the spine and derives its blood supply from the adjoining large vessels, such as the iliac arteries. EMBRYOLOGY If one examines the embryo when the kidneys and ureters first make their appearance, one will find the axis of the kidney perpendicular and the pelvis anterior. Shortly thereafter, the kidney and its pelvis begin to rotate mesially and the upper pole turns laterally. When the axis remains at an angle or turns horizontally across the embryo, a horsehoe kidney may develop. Normally at about eight weeks the kidney reaches the relative position it will occupy at birth and is usually covered with the adrenal gland above with the sex gland below. Our study of the embryology indicates that the development