Which is slightly more hypoechoic?

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On gray-scale ultrasound, brightness equals echogenicity, which reflects tissue composition and how much tissue reflects the sound waves. The renal cortex tends to reflect fewer waves than the liver or spleen, so it appears darker. That makes it slightly more hypoechoic relative to the liver and spleen. The renal sinus, in contrast, is rich in fat and fibrous tissue, so it appears bright (hyperechoic). The liver and spleen are more echogenic overall than the cortex, with the spleen often a bit brighter than the liver. So the renal cortex fits as the slightly more hypoechoic structure.