Gerota's fascia

Gerota's fascia (also known as the renal fascia) is a layer of connective tissue encapsulating the kidneys and the adrenal glands. The fascia is named after Romanian anatomist Dimitrie Gerota who described it in detail in the early 20th century.

Anatomy

Gerota's fascia is a fibrous sheath that surrounds the kidney and adrenal gland. It is enclosed between two layers: the anterior and posterior layers. The anterior layer covers the front of the kidney and adrenal gland, while the posterior layer covers the back of these organs. The space between these two layers is known as the perirenal space, which contains the kidneys, adrenal glands, and perirenal fat.

Clinical significance

Gerota's fascia plays a crucial role in the spread of renal cell carcinoma, the most common type of kidney cancer. The fascia acts as a barrier that prevents the spread of the cancer to other organs. However, if the cancer breaches Gerota's fascia, it can spread to other parts of the body, a process known as metastasis.

In addition, Gerota's fascia is also involved in several surgical procedures involving the kidneys. For example, during a nephrectomy (surgical removal of a kidney), the surgeon must cut through Gerota's fascia to reach the kidney.

See also

• Zuckerkandl's fascia
• Renal capsule
• Renal cell carcinoma
• Nephrectomy

References

Gerota's fascia Resources
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