Anatomy Of The Urinary System Flashcards

1
Q

List the functions of the kidneys and urinary tract

A
  • excretion
  • regulation: fluid volume, ionic components, acid-base balance + homeostasis
  • endocrine: synthesis of renin, erythropoietin, prostaglandins
  • metabolism: activate vit D + catabolism of insulin, parathyroid hormone, calcitonin
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2
Q

Describe the anatomical location of the kidneys

A
  • retroperitoneum on the posterior abdominal wall either side of the vertebral column
  • between T12-L3 vertebrae
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3
Q

What is a small kidney (<8cm) a sign of?

A

Chronic kidney disease
Losing the cortex

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4
Q

What vertebral level is the hilum at?

A

L1

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5
Q

What layers surround the kidney?

A
  • renal capsule
  • perirenal fat
  • renal fascia - holds fat + kidneys in place
  • pararenal fat
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6
Q

What parts of the nephron are in the cortex?

A
  • bowman’s capsule
  • PCT
  • DCT
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7
Q

What part of the nephron is in the medulla?

A
  • Loop of Henlé
  • collecting duct
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8
Q

Outline the drainage of the kidneys

A
  • collecting duct
  • papillae
  • minor calyces
  • major calyces
  • renal pelvis
  • ureter
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9
Q

What are the two types of nephrons?

A
  • Cortical: short LoH
  • Juxtamedullary: long LoH
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10
Q

Outline the blood supply to the kidneys from the aorta to the inferior vena cava

A
  • aorta
  • renal artery
  • segmental artery
  • interlobar artery
  • arcuate artery
  • interlobular artery
  • Afferent arteriole
  • golmerulus
  • Efferent arteriole
  • peritubular capillaries OR vasa recta
  • interlobular vein
  • arcuate vein
  • interlobar vein
  • segmental vein
  • renal vein
  • IVC
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11
Q

Describe the ureters

A
  • smooth muscle fibres that propel urine to urinary bladder
  • 25-30cm
  • retroperitoneal
  • lateral to tips of transverse processes
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12
Q

What is the most common area of ureteric injury?

A

Near the pelvic brim

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13
Q

What bony landmarks can be used in an X-ray to approximate the course of the ureter?

A
  • L1 at the hilium
  • runs lateral to the tip of lumbar transverse processes
  • crosses and descends into pelvis at sacroiliac joint
  • kink towards bladder at ischial spine
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14
Q

What prevents urine from moving back up the ureter?

A

Increased pressure closes the vesicoureteral junction

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15
Q

What allows the bladder to contract and expand?

A

Muscular folds called rugae

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16
Q

Describe the bladder

A
  • detrusor muscle
  • muscular folds called rugae
  • lined with transitional epithelium - urothelium
  • can hold 750ml
17
Q

Where does an empty bladder rest in men and women?

A
  • Men: in front of rectum
  • Women: in front of vagina, uterus + rectum
18
Q

What urethral sphincter is under voluntary control?

A

External urethral sphincter

19
Q

What are the male urethral divisions?

A
  • prostatic urethra
  • membranous urethra
  • bulbous urethra
  • penile/spongy urethra
20
Q

Explain why the left kidney is higher than the right kidney

A

The right kidney is pushed down by the liver

21
Q

What is the role of the renal pelvis in the kidney?

A

Urine passes from the major calyces to the renal pelvis before it drains into the ureter to go to the bladder for storage

22
Q

What is the renal hilum and what does it do?

A
  • a deep cut which marks the dial margins of the kidneys
  • renal vessels + the ureter enter/exit the kidney through it
23
Q

What is the arterial supply to the kidneys?

A

right and left renal arteries from the abdominal aorta

24
Q

What is the junction between the renal pelvis and the ureter called?

A

Pelviureteric junction

25
Q

What is the junction between the ureter and the bladder called?

A

Vesicouretic junction

26
Q

What is the venous drainage of the kidneys

A

left and right renal veins drain into the inferior vena cava

27
Q

Describe the lymphatic drainage of the kidneys

A

Lateral aortic nodes

28
Q

What is the anatomical location of the prostatic urethra?

A

Traverses the prostate

29
Q

What is the anatomical location of the membranous urethra?

A

From the apex of the prostate to the bulb of the penis

30
Q

Is the left or right renal vein longer?
Why?

A

Left renal vein
IVC is to the right of the aorta
Further distance to travel

31
Q

Is the left or right renal artery longer?
Why?

A

Right renal artery
Aorta is on the left of the IVC
Further to travel

32
Q

What is the renal pyramid?

A

Cone shaped kidney tissues
(Just the medulla | not the cortex)

33
Q

What are the renal lobes?

A

Triangular portion of kidney consisting of the renal pyramid + the renal cortex above it

34
Q

What are the renal columns?

A

Space in between the renal pyramids

35
Q

Describe the course of the ureter until it enters the bladder referencing abdominal muscles + major vessels

A
  • arise form pelvis of each kidney
  • descend on top of psoas major to reach brim of pelvis
  • crosses in front of common iliac arteries
  • runs postero-inferiorly on lateral walls of pelvis
  • curves antero-medially to enter bladder
36
Q

What vertebral level would you find the right kidney?

A

T12 - L3

37
Q

What vertebral level would you find the left kidney?

A

T11/12 - L2/3