ABSTRACT
Developmental abnormalities of the urinary tract are common and account for 30% to 50% cases of end-stage renal disease in children.1 Formation of the kidney consists of a complex series of morphogenetic events during intrauterine development that are complete by approximately 34 weeks of gestation. However, growth of kidney cells continues aer birth, as does functional development of the kidneys. Renal development is incomplete at birth, even in full-term infants and to a greater extent in preterm infants. Mature levels of renal function are not achieved until approximately 2 years of age. e objectives of this chapter are to supplement the broad concepts of renal embryologic development discussed in Chapter 1 and to explore the molecular events involved in nephrogenesis.
