Renal capsule

The renal capsule is a tough fibrous layer surrounding the kidney and covered in a thick layer of perinephric adipose tissue. It provides some protection from trauma and damage.

The renal capsule relates to the other layers in the following manner (moving from innermost to outermost):
 * renal medulla
 * renal cortex
 * renal capsule
 * perinephric fat (or "perirenal fat")
 * renal fascia
 * paranephric fat (or "pararenal fat")
 * peritoneum (anteriorly), and transversalis fascia (posteriorly)