Anatomy & physiology Flashcards
Kidney’s function
Main function is to filter and excrete waste products from the blood. They are also responsible for water and electrolyte balance in the body.
What structure connects the kidneys to the bladder in the transport of urine?
Right & left ureters
How is urine expelled from the body in females?
Leaves the body via the urethra, which opens out into the perineum in the female
Are the kidneys intraperitoneal or retroperitoneal?
Retroperitoneal (behind the peritoneum)
Why is the right kidney positioned lower than the left?
Due to the presence of the liver.
What structure lies immediately superior to each kidney?
The adrenal glands within a separate envelope of the renal fascia.
The kidneys lie within complex layers of fascia and fat; what are the 4 layers called from deep to superficial?
Renal capsule
Perirenal fat
Renal fascia (also known as Gerota’s fascia or perirenal fascia)
Pararenal fat
What is the renal capsule made up of?
Tough fibrous capsule.
What is the renal fasica?
Also known as Gerota’s fascia or perirenal fascia – encloses the kidneys and the suprarenal glands
The renal parenchyma can be divided into two sections; what are they?
The outer cortex and inner medulla.
The cortex extends into the medulla, dividing it into triangular shapes; what are the names for the triangles?
Known as renal pyramids
What is the renal pelvis?
Urine passes through the major calices into the renal pelvis, a flattened and funnel-shaped structure.
From the renal pelvis, urine drains into the ureter, which transports it to the bladder for storage.
What is the apex of each renal pyramid called?
A renal papilla - Each renal papilla is associated with a structure known as the minor calyx, which collects urine from the pyramids
Each renal papilla (apex of renal pyramid) is associated with a structure; what is the name of this structure
Each renal papilla is associated with a structure known as the minor calyx, which collects urine from the pyramids
Several minor calices merge to form a major calyx. What is the role of the major calcyx?
The major calyx surrounds the apex of the the renal pyramids.
Urine formed in the kidney passes through a papilla at the apex into a minor calyx then into major calyx before passing through the renal pelvis into the ureter.
What is the function of the ureter?
Drains urine (from the kidney to the bladder)
What is the function of the bladder?
stores/voids urine (voiding = “emptying”)
What is the upper renal tract made up of?
the kidneys (right &left) the ureters (right & left) - one to drain each kidney
What is the lower renal tract made up of?
the bladder (unpaired midline structure) the urethra (unpaired midline structure)
What are the ANTERIOR anatomical relations of the left kidney?
Suprarenal gland Spleen Stomach Pancreas Left colic flexure Jejunum
What are the ANTERIOR anatomical relations of the right kidney?
Suprarenal gland
Liver
Duodenum
Right colic flexure
What are the POSTERIOR anatomical relations of the left kidney?
Diaphragm
11th and 12th ribs
Psoas major, quadratus lumborum and transversus abdominis
Subcostal, iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerves
What are the POSTERIOR anatomical relations of the right kidney?
Diaphragm
12th rib
Psoas major, quadratus lumborum and transversus abdominis
Subcostal, iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerves
What arteries supply the kidneys?
Renal arteries, which arise directly from the abdominal aorta, immediately distal to the origin of the superior mesenteric artery.
The renal arteries divide into an anterior and posterior renal arteries; these arteries further divide into 5 arteries - what is the name of these arteries?
Segmental arteries
The renal artery branches are end arteries; why is this important?
There is no communication between vessels. This is of crucial importance; as trauma or obstruction in one arterial branch will eventually lead to ischaemia and necrosis of the renal parenchyma supplied by this vessel.
What is the line of Brodel?
The avascular plane of the kidney (line of Brodel) is an imaginary line along the lateral and slightly posterior border of the kidney, which delineates the segments of the kidney supplied by the anterior and posterior divisions.
Why is the line of Brodel important surgically?
It is an important access route for both open and endoscopic surgical access of the kidney, as it minimises the risk of damage to major arterial branches.
What is a supernumerary artery?
Supernumerary arteries are accessory arteries (present in around 25% of people) that reaches the kidney
What is an aberrant artery?
If a supernumerary artery (accessory artery) does not enter the kidney through the hilum, it is called aberrant.
What is the venous drainage of the kidneys?
The kidneys are drained of venous blood by the left and right renal veins. They leave the renal hilum anteriorly to the renal arteries, and empty directly into the inferior vena cava.
What is the lymphatic drainage of the kidneys?
Lymph from the kidney drains into the lateral aortic (or para-aortic) lymph nodes, which are located at the origin of the renal arteries.
What is a pelvic kidney?
In utero, the kidneys develop in the pelvic region and ascend to the lumbar retroperitoneal area.
Occasionally, one of the kidneys can fail to ascend and remains in the pelvis – usually at the level of the common iliac artery.
What is the name of the most common renal cancer?
Renal carcinoma