A kidney that migrates into the chest through a diaphragmatic hernia is called?

• A. Thoracic kidney
• B. Pelvic kidney
• C. Horseshoe kidney
• D. Ectopic kidney

Answer: (A)

A kidney that ends up in the chest because of a diaphragmatic defect is called a thoracic kidney. This is a specific type of ectopic kidney, meaning it is located outside its normal abdominal position. During normal development, the kidneys migrate upward from the pelvis to the upper abdomen; if a diaphragmatic hernia or defect allows the kidney to pass into the thoracic cavity, the result is a thoracic kidney.

This differs from a pelvic kidney, where ascent stops in the pelvis, or a horseshoe kidney, where the kidneys fuse at the bottom and are arrested by the inferior mesenteric artery. Ectopic kidney is the broader umbrella term that includes any kidney located outside its usual position, with thoracic kidney being one such example.