What forms a shell around the renal medulla and dips between renal pyramids?

The renal cortex is the outer region of the kidney, and it plays an essential role in the overall structure and function of the kidney. It forms a shell around the renal medulla, which is the inner part of the kidney where the renal pyramids are located. The renal cortex extends between the renal pyramids, creating structures known as renal columns. These columns help to support the renal pyramids and maintain the organization of the kidney's internal anatomy.

The renal cortex contains the majority of the kidney's functional units, the nephrons, which are critical for filtering blood and producing urine. By enveloping the renal medulla, the cortex serves as an essential component of the kidney's architecture, ensuring proper function in filtering and urine formation.

In the context of the other options: the renal capsule is a protective layer surrounding the kidney itself, the renal pelvis is a funnel-shaped structure that collects urine from the renal calyces and directs it to the ureter, and the renal hilum refers to the entry and exit point for blood vessels and the ureter but does not relate to the organization around the renal medulla. Thus, the renal cortex is the correct answer, as it accurately describes the structure that encases the renal medulla and dips