ANATOMY

Detailed explanation-1: -Renal hypoplasia is a common, yet poorly understood and misused term describing congenital renal anomalies. Renal hypoplasia is defined as abnormally small kidneys (<2 SD below the expected mean when correlated with age or parameters of somatic growth) with normal morphology and reduced nephron number.

Detailed explanation-2: -A kidney that is smaller in size can lead to kidney disease. A greater decrease in kidney size, especially for both kidneys, can lead to kidney failure.

Detailed explanation-3: -When the embryonic kidney cells fail to develop, the result is called renal agenesis. It is often detected on fetal ultrasound because there will be a lack of amniotic fluid (called oligohydramnios). When both kidneys are absent this condition is not compatible with life.

Detailed explanation-4: -In practice, renal agenesis and renal aplasia might be indistinguishable. Renal hypoplasia is a congenitally small kidney without dysplasia and can be bilateral or unilateral (see Fig. 33).

Detailed explanation-5: -Renal hypoplasia (or kidney hypoplasia) means that part of a kidney does not fully develop in the womb. The kidney may be only slightly smaller than usual or it may be tiny. Because of its size, it may not work as well as a normal-sized kidney.