Anatomy: upper renal tract

Question 1

what defines the urinary tract

Answer 1

anatomical structures urine passes through from production to excretion

Question 2

what is the pathway of urine

Answer 2

kidney: produces, ureter: drains from kidney to bladder, bladder: stores/ empties urine, urethra: excretes urine

Question 3

what is in upper and lower urinary tract

Answer 3

upper = kidneys and ureters, lower = bladder and urethra

Question 4

what parts of the urinary tract lie in the abdomen

Answer 4

kidneys and proximal ureters (retroperitoneum)

Question 5

what parts of the urinary tract lie in the pelvis

Answer 5

distal ureters, bladder, proximal urethra

Question 6

what parts of the urinary tract lie in the perineum

Answer 6

distal urethra

Question 7

what layers protect the kidneys (outside in)

Answer 7

visceral peritoneum, paranephric fat, renal (deep) fascia, renal capsule

Question 8

the kidneys lie anteriorly to what

Answer 8

quadrutus lumborum (muscles running from ribs to posterior iliac crest)

Question 9

the kidneys lie laterally to what

Answer 9

psoas major and vertebral bodies

Question 10

the kidneys lie posteriorly to what

Answer 10

floating ribs 11 and 12

Question 11

at what vertebral levels do kidneys lie and why are they different

Answer 11

left = T12-L2, right = L1-L3

liver pushes down right kidney

Question 12

what regions/ quadrants are the kidneys in

Answer 12

R/L upper quadrant, R/L lumbar region

Question 13

when we breath in what direction do kidneys move

Answer 13

down

Question 14

what is anterior/ posterior in renal veins and arteries

Answer 14

veins ant and arteries post

Question 15

what is anterior/ posterior in iliac veins and arteries

Answer 15

arteries ant and veins post

Question 16

where does lymph from kidneys drain

Answer 16

lumbar nodes

Question 17

at what level does the aorta bifurcate into the common iliacs

Answer 17

level of umbilicus

Question 18

where does the lymph from the ureters drain

Answer 18

lumbar and iliac nodes

Question 19

where do the renal pyramids lie

Answer 19

in the renal medulla

Question 20

what do pyramids contain

Answer 20

50,000 nephrons

Question 21

how does urine drain from collecting nephrons to the ureter

Answer 21

nephron collecting duct –> minor calyx –> major calyx –> renal pelvis –> ureter

Question 22

where are the anatomical sites of ureteric constriction (3)

Answer 22

pelviureteric junction, ureter crossing common iliac artery, ureteric orifice (into bladder)

Question 23

what are renal calculi

Answer 23

stones from urine calcium salts, obstructing the urinary tract

Question 24

how can ureteric obstruction occur

Answer 24

internal obstruction (renal calculus or blood clot), external compression (expanding mass)

Question 25

how does the urinary tract try to pass obstructions and what pain does it cause

Answer 25

peristalsis as smooth muscle - colicky pain x

Question 26

at what point does urine production stop

Answer 26

pressure within urinary tract exceeds pressure favouring filtration at glomerulus

Question 27

what is renal failure

Answer 27

failure to adequately filter blood to produce urine

Question 28

what does each nephron contain

Answer 28

glomerulus, proximal tubule, loop of Henle, distal tubule and collecting duct.