The adrenal glands, also known as suprarenal glands, are small, triangular- shaped endocrine glands located on top of each kidney. They sit at the superomedial aspect of the kidneys in the retroperitoneal space of the abdomen, positioned between the upper poles of the kidneys and the diaphragm
. Specifically:
- The right adrenal gland is pyramidal in shape and lies below the liver, posterior to the inferior vena cava, and anterior to the diaphragm.
- The left adrenal gland is crescent or semilunar shaped and is located medially to the spleen, superior to the splenic artery and vein, lateral to the abdominal aorta, and anterior to the diaphragm
Both glands are enclosed in the renal fascia and surrounded by perirenal fat, which separates them from the kidneys. They are covered anteriorly by the parietal peritoneum but are otherwise retroperitoneal
. In summary, the adrenal glands are located atop the kidneys, nestled between the kidneys and diaphragm, within the retroperitoneal space of the upper abdomen
