Q.What is the hilum of the kidney, and what three structures pass through it?

[!TLDR]

The hilum is the notch on the kidney's inner border through which the renal artery, renal vein and ureter pass.

[!ANSWER]

The hilum (hilus) is the notch on the concave inner (medial) border of the kidney; the renal artery enters through it, and the renal vein and ureter leave through it.

The hilum, also spelt hilus, is a deep notch located on the concave, inner (medial) border of each kidney -- the single point of entry and exit for the kidney's major connecting vessels and duct. The renal artery enters the kidney through the hilum to supply it with blood; the renal vein, carrying filtered blood back toward general circulation, and the ureter, carrying newly formed urine onward to the bladder, both leave the kidney through the same hilum.

[!ANSWER]

The hilum (hilus) is the notch on the concave inner (medial) border of the kidney; the renal artery enters through it, and the renal vein and ureter leave through it.

Recall the hilum's location (inner, concave border) and name the three structures that pass through it: renal artery (in), renal vein (out), ureter (out).

Naming only one or two of the three structures (commonly forgetting the ureter) rather than all three that pass through the hilum.