Anatomical overview of the renal system Flashcards
where are kidney stones most likely to lodge in the ureters?
- renal pelvis / ureter junction
- pelvic brim
- ureter / bladder junction
the kidneys align with which vertebral bodies?
T12 - L3
are the renal corpuscles in the cortex or medulla?
cortex
what two components make up the renal corpuscles?
- glomerulus
- bowman’s capsule
what two structures make up the renal cortex?
- corpuscles
- cortical labyrinths
what components make up the cortical labyrinth?
- PCT
- loop of henle
- DCT
what structures are found in the renal medulla?
- loops of henle
- collecting ducts
- papilla
are the renal columns cortex or medulla?
cortex
what is the order of blood supply to the kidney?
- renal
- segmental
- interlobar
- arcuate
- interlobular
- afferent arteriole
- efferent arteriole
- peritubular capillary beds, vasa recta
what are the two types of layers in bowman’s capsule?
- parietal
- visceral
which part of the loop of henle is located in the cortex? which part is in the medulla?
- cortex: thick part
- medulla: thin part
what are the types / functions of the mesangial cells?
- contractile cells that control glomerular flow
- phagocytic cells clear immune complexes and clean BM
what do the contractile mesangial cells respond to?
ANF
the “filter” for size / charge occurs where / through what cells?
basement membrane / mesangial cells
podocytes make up what part of the nephron?
visceral layer of bowman’s capsule
what are the two laminae of the basement membrane?
- lamina rara
- lamina densa
where is the lamina rara located? what is its function? what molecules lines it?
- basement membrane on either side of lamina densa
- charge barrier that traps cationic molecules, repels anionic molecules
- heparin sulfate
where is the lamina densa located? what is its function? what type of collagen lines this space?
- basement membrane
- restricts movement of molecules greater than 70 kDa MW
- type IV collagen
what components make up the filtration apparatus from the glomerular to urinary space (in order)?
- fenestrated endothelium
- lamina rara
- lamina densa
- lamina rara
- diaphragm between pedicles of podocytes
what is the longest segment of the nephron?
PCT
what type of epithelium makes up the PCT?
low simple columnar (cuboidal) epithelium
which part of the nephron has microvilli?
PCT
what organelles are abundant in the PCT?
mitochondria
what type of epithelium makes up the descending loop of henle?
simple cuboidal transitioning to simple squamous
what type of epithelium makes up the ascending loop of henle?
simple squamous
in which part of the nephron is the countercurrent multiplier located?
ascending loop
what type of epithelium makes up the distal convoluted tubule?
simple low columnar (cuboidal)
where are the intercalated cells?
DCT
what is the function of the juxtaglomerular apparatus? what does it consist of?
- regulatory unit that continuously adjusts the amount of renin being released from JG cells
- macula densa
- JG cells
- lacis cells of extraglomerular mesangium
what type of epithelium makes up the collecting tubules and ducts?
simple cuboidal
what type of epithelium makes up the minor calyces, major calyces, and renal pelvis?
transitional
on radiograph / CT, where do the ureters sit?
on top of the psoas major
what is the motor innervation to the detrusor muscle of the urinary bladder?
parasympathetic
how does parasympathetic innervation affect the internal urethral sphincter? sympathetic?
- parasympathetic: relaxation
- sympathetic: constriction
what are the sympathetic fibers within the renal nerve plexus?
thoracic, lumbar, and sacral splanchnics
what are the parasympathetic nerves associated with the urinary system?
- vagus
- pelvic splanchnics
visceral afferent fibers conveying pain sensation follow which type of fibers (sympathetic / parasympathetic)?
which DRGs do they go to?
- sympathetic
- T10 - L2
where does referred pain from the urinary system go?
- ipsilateral lower quadrant of the anterior abdominal wall
- groin (especially)
which part of the male urethra is the thinnest?
membranous
what are the somatic muscles involved in the femal micturition reflex?
- deep transverse perineal muscle
- sphincter urethrae
- compressor urethrae
- urethrovaginalis
- pudendal
what muscles make up the pelvic diaphragm?
levator ani (iliococcygeus, pubococcygeus, puborectalis) + coccygeus
