April 4, 2016 - Meet the Organs

Question 1

Renal Agenesis

Answer 1

When one or both kidneys fail to form.

Unilateral agenesis is 1/500 people

Bilateral agenesis is 1/3000 people and is not compatible with survival after birth

Question 2

Polycystic Kidney Disease

Answer 2

Juvenile is autosomal recessive (ARPKD) is very rare. It is bilateral and also affects the liver.

Adult is autosomal dominant (ADPKD) is more common and has many different mechanisms for cyst formation. Affects 1/400 - 1/1000 people and is usually asymptomatic until 40-50 years of age.

Question 3

Position of the Kidneys

Answer 3

The right kidney is usually about 1.5cm lower than the left kidney because of the liver.

Question 4

Innervation of the Kidneys

Answer 4

Is done by the vagus nerve at Cranial Nerve 10 for the parasympathetic innervation.

Is done by the least splanchnic nerve from T10-L1 for the sympathetic innervation.

Question 5

Proteinuria

Answer 5

Indicates disease or damage to the glomerulus.

There should not be protein in the urine every in healthy conditions. Proteins are negatively charged, as are the basal lamina of the epithelial cells, so they should normally repel.