Ach: Kidney

Question 1

What are the functions of the kidney?

Answer 1

1. Remove excess water, salts and metabolites from the blood
2. Return nutrients and select ions to the blood
3. Regulate blood pressure
4. Produce EPO

Question 2

Where is the kidney located?

Answer 2

Posterior abdominal wall

T11-12

Question 3

What are the external components of the kidney?

Answer 3

Capsule
Hilum
renal vein
renal artery
ureter

Question 4

What is the renal sinus?

Answer 4

Fat filled space containing urinary collection structures

Question 5

What is the cortex and what does it contain?

Answer 5

The outer 1/2

• glomeruli of cortical nephrons and juxtamedullary nephrons
• loops of Henle
• proximal and distal convoluted tubules
• renal columns

Question 6

What is the medulla and what does it contain?

Answer 6

Inner 2/3

1. Medullary pyramids
2. Calyces

Question 7

What is the minor calyx?

Answer 7

Collect urine from the renal papilla and coallesce to form the major calyx which unite to form the renal pelvis. Renal pelvis are the dilated portion of the ureter

Question 8

Describe the arterial blood supply to the kidney.

Answer 8

Branches of abdominal aorta>
enter at hilum>
segmental arteries>
arcuate arteries> 
interlobular arteries (surround the pyramids)>
glomeruli>
vasa recta

Question 9

Describe the venous blood supply to the kidney.

Answer 9

Venular recta>
arcuate veins

R veins> IVC

L veins receives L gonadal vein> IVC

Question 10

What are ureters?

Answer 10

Continuous with the renal pelvis

Carry urine into the urinary bladder

Question 11

What are renal calculi?

Answer 11

Kidney stones

Excess oxalate/ca (metabolic problems)>
crystallize>
stone>
enlarges>
stay in kidney or pass through renal pelvis to ureter

Question 12

How do you pass small kidney stone?

Answer 12

Drink large quantity of water

Question 13

How do you treat large kidney stones?

Answer 13

1. Lithotripsy- sound waves are used to break up stone into smaller pieces which are then excreted.
2. Laproscopid technique

*Larger stones can obstruct calyces or ureters and cause urine to collect.

Question 14

What is hydronephrosis?

Answer 14

Obstruction of the ureter>
ureter expands to contain the urine>
urine can back up into the renal pelvis/calyces

Question 15

What are some complications that can occur d/t hydronephrosis?

Answer 15

1. Increased P can compress kidney parenchyma> kidney failure
2. Kidney general floats in abdominal cavity, but it can descend and kind the ureter> obstruction.

Question 16

What is polycystic kidney disease?

Answer 16

Clusters of fluid-filled cysts develop in the kidney (associated with cystic diseases of other organs (liver)

Question 17

What sxs are associated with polycystic kidney disease?

Answer 17

1. COMPRESSION of the kidneys> HTN and renal failure
2. back/side pain
3. increase in size of abdomen
4. Uremia/UTIs

Question 18

What is the most common cause of polycystic kidney disease?

Answer 18

Autosomal dominant genetic mutaiton
sxs appear between ages 30 and 40

*autosomal recessive is less common and sxs appear right after birth