Anatomy Flashcards
What parts of the urinary tract are in the retroperitoneum?
Kidneys
Proximal ureters
What parts of the urinary tract are in the pelvis?
Distal ureters
Bladder
Proximal urethra
What part of the urinary tract is in the perineum?
Distal urethra
What is the kidney enclosed in (from superficial to deep)?
(Visceral peritoneum)
- Paranephric fat
- Renal/Deep fascia
- Perinephric fat
- Renal capsule
What muscles surround the kidney?
Posterior abdominal walls: - Quadratus lumborum Anterolateral abdominal wall: - Obliques - Transverse abdominis Back
What muscle is the kidney anterior to?
Quadratus lumborum
What muscle is the kidney lateral to?
Psoas major
What vertebral levels is the right kidney at?
L1-L3
What vertebral levels is the left kidney at?
T12-L2
What ribs protect the kidneys?
11 + 12
What effects can rib fractures have on the kidneys?
Contusion and Laceration
What are the dimensions of a normal kidney?
Length ~12cm
Width ~6cm
How does a usual kidney feel?
Smooth
Regular
Firm
What does the right kidney lie posterior to?
Liver
2nd part of duodenum
Ascending colon
Right colic flexure
What sac does the hepatorenal recess lie in?
Greater sac
What does the left kidney lie posterior to?
Stomach
Tail of pancreas
Hilum of spleen
Splenic vessels
Which is more anterior, the renal arteries or veins?
Veins
Which is more anterior, common iliac arteries or veins?
Arteries
What lymph nodes does renal lymph flow to?
Lumbar nodes
Where are the lumbar lymph nodes?
Around abdominal aorta and IVC
Where does ureteric lymph flow to?
Lumbar and iliac nodes
Where are the iliac lymph nodes located?
Around the common, internal and external iliac vessels
Which of the following blood vessels doesn’t supply the ureter:
- Renal artery
- Abdominal artery
- Common and iliac arteries
- Superior mesenteric artery
- Vesical artery
Superior mesenteric artery
What does the vesical artery supply?
Bladder
What tends to be the cause of an infra-renal AAA and renal artery stenosis?
Atherosclerosis
What tends to cause renal artery stenosis by occlusion?
Suprarenal AAA
What is the most common anatomical variation in the renal system? What is its incidence?
Bifid renal pelvis -> 1:10
What renal anatomical variation has an incidence of 1:25?
Bifid ureter and unilateral duplicated ureter
What are three less common anatomical variations of the renal and urinary systems? What are their incidences?
Horseshoe kidney -> 1:500
Retro-caval (behind IVC) ureter -> 1:1500
Ectopic pelvic kidney -> 1:2500
What can cause a solitary kidney?
Agenesis
Neophrectomy
How many pyramids are in each renal medulla?
27
Approximately how many nephrons are in each renal pyramid?
~50000
What direction do nephrons run? How does this make the pyramids appear?
Axially to the apex:
- Striped appearance
Where does the collecting duct drain the filtrate into?
Minor calyx
Where is the first constriction do urine flow and what does this junction indicate?
Pelviureteric junction:
- Renal pelvis becomes ureter
Where are the anatomical sites of ureteric constriction?
- Pelviureteric junction
- Ureter crossing anterior aspect of common iliac artery (often at the bifurcation)
- Ureteric orifice
Where does the ureter open into?
One corner of the trigone on the bladder floor
What imaging modalities can show renal calculi?
X-rays IV urogram (shows ureteric narrowing)
What compound makes up the majority of renal calculi?
Calcium oxalate
Where do ‘staghorn’ calculi tend to form?
Pelvis and major calyces
What can internally obstruct the ureter?
Impacted calculus
Blood clot
What can externally obstruct the ureter?
Expanding mass (eg. Tumour)
What muscle is in the walls of the ureter?
Smooth muscle
When the ureter is obstructed, what is its response?
Increased peristalsis proximal to obstruction:
- In waves -> ‘Colicky’ pain
What type of obstructions can cause a unilateral back pressure up to the kidney?
Ureteric blockage
Bladder blockage
What type of obstructions can cause a bilateral back pressure up to the kidney?
Bladder blockage
Urethra blockage
In ureteric obstruction, when will urine production stop?
When urinary tract pressure > Glomerular filtration pressure
How does hydronephrosis result in renal failure?
Urine backs up into calyces -> Nephrone compression -> Renal failure
What kidney, when enlarged, is easier to feel on palpation?
Right kidney
Where is the false pelvis?
From iliac crests to the pelvic inlet
What is the false pelvis a part of?
Abdominal cavity
Where is the true pelvis?
From pelvic inlet to the pelvic floor
What forms the pelvic floor?
Pelvic diaphragm (mainly levator ani)
What are the openings in the pelvic floor?
Distal parts of the following tracts:
- GI - Renal - Reproductive
Where is the perineum?
Between pelvic floor and skin
Where do the ureters lie in relation to the common iliac vessels?
Anteriorly
Where do the ureters run along?
Lateral pelvic walls
Where do the ureters turn medially?
At the level of the ischial spine