13. Retroperitoneal Structures Flashcards
What is meant by ‘retroperitoneal’?
Behind the parietal peritoneum - i.e. only covered on one surface
Which structures are retroperitoneal?
SAD PUCKER Suprarenal glands Aorta (and IVC) Duodenum (2nd and 3rd part) Pancreas (except tail) Ureters Colon (ascending and descending) Kidneys oEsophagus Rectum
Which structures are primary retroperitoneal? (2 main ones)
Kidneys
Adrenal glands
Which kidney sits higher?
Left
What makes up the hilum of the kidney?
Renal vein
Branches of renal artery
(Renal pelvis/ ureter is posterior)
MAKE SURE YOU CAN LABEL DIAGRAM OF KIDNEY
LABEL DIAGRAM (LECTURE SLIDE 13)
At what vertebral level does the renal artery branch from the aorta?
L1
Describe the right renal artery - in terms of length and position to the IVC
Longer than the left
Posterior to IVC
What are the arteries inside the kidney?
Lobar
Interlobar
Arcuate
Afferent glomerular arterioles
Where does blood from the kidney drain?
Renal veins then IVC
Where does lymph from the kidney drain?
Lateral aortic nodes around origin of renal artery
What is the nerve supply of the kidney?
Renal sympathetic plexuses
Where do afferent fibres from the kidney enter the spinal cord?
Levels T10 - T12
Which vein is longer - left or right renal vein?
Left renal vein (x3 length of right)
Which veins join the left renal vein?
Left gonadal and left suprarenal veins
What structures does the left renal vein pass behind?
Splenic vein and body of pancreas
What structures does the right renal vein pass behind?
Descending duodenum
Where do the ureters enter the bladder?
Trigone
Where are the ureteric constrictions? (3)
Junction of ureters and renal pelvis
Where ureters cross pelvic brim
As the ureters enter the wall of the bladder
What is the arterial supply of the ureters?
Renal artery
Testicular/ ovarian artery
Superior vesical artery
What is the venous drainage of the ureters?
Renal veins
Testicular/ ovarian veins
Superior vesical vein
Where does lymph from the ureters drain?
Lateral aortic (at L1) nodes Iliac nodes
What is the nerve supply of the ureters?
Renal plexus
Testicular/ ovarian plexus
Hypogastric plexus
What vertebral levels do afferent fibres from the ureter go?
L1 and L2
What does the cortex of the adrenal gland produce?
Corticoids and glucocorticoids
What does the medulla of the adrenal gland produce?
Adrenaline and noradrenaline
What shapes are the adrenal glands?
Right - pyramidal
Left - cresenteric
What is the arterial supply of the adrenal glands?
Suprarenal branch of inferior phrenic
Suprarenal branch of aorta
Suprarenal branch of renal
What is the venous drainage of the adrenal glands?
R - IVC
L - renal vein
Where does lymph from the adrenal glands drain?
Lateral aortic nodes
What is the nerve supply of the adrenal glands?
Pre-ganglionic sympathetic from splanchnic nerves
