Chapter 14

Question 1

urinary system

Answer 1

among the most common contrast media procedures performed in radiology departments.

Question 2

kidneys and ureters

Answer 2

lie on the most posterior part of the abdominal cavity.

Question 3

right kidney

Answer 3

is generally slightly lower or more more inferior than the left because of the presence of the liver.

Question 4

latin designation for kidney

Answer 4

ren, and renal refer to kidney

Question 5

kidneys

Answer 5

lie in the upper posterior abdomen and on either side of the vertebral column.

Question 6

right kidney

Answer 6

is positioned posterior to the the lower portion of the liver.

Question 7

left kidney

Answer 7

is positioned posterior to the inferior border of the spleen. the lower rib cage thus forms a protective enclosure for the kidneys.

Question 8

ureters

Answer 8

lies anterior to its respective kidney. the ureters follow the natural curve of the vertebral column. each ureter initially curves anteriorly, following the lumbar lordotic curvature, and then curves posteriorly on entering the pelvis. after passing into the pelvis, each ureter follows the sacrococcygeal curve before entering the posterolateral aspect of the bladder.

Question 9

urethra

Answer 9

connects the bladder to the exterior. it exits the body from the symphysis pubis. the entire urinary system is posterior to or below the peritoneum.

Question 10

retroperitoneal structures

Answer 10

kidneys and ureters

Question 11

infraperitoneal structures

Answer 11

bladder and urethra

Question 12

average adult kidney

Answer 12

weighs about 150 grams. they measure 4 to 5 inches long and 2 to 3 inches wide. the left kidney is a little longer but narrower than the right.

Question 13

Kidney orientation

Answer 13

the large muscles on either side of the vertebral column cause the longitudinal plane of the kidneys to form a vertical angle of about 20 degrees with the midsagittal plane. these large muscles include the two psoas major muscles. they grow larger as they progress inferiorly from the upper lumbar vertebrae. this gradual enlargement produces the 20 degree angle, wherein the upper pole of each kidney is closer to the midline than its lower pole
these large posterior abdominal muscles also cause the kidneys to rotate backward within the retroperitoneal space. as a result the medial border of each kidney is more anerior than the lateral border.

Question 14

kidney rotation

Answer 14

the normal kidney rotation of about 30 degrees is due to the midline location of the vertebral column and the large psoas major muscles on either side.
the quadratus lumborum muscles are also shown on each side just posterior to the kidneys. the deep muscles of the back include the group of erector spinae muscles on each side of the spine.
when posterior oblique projections are used during radiographic studies of the urinary system, each kidney in turn is placed parallel to the plane of the image receptor. the body is rotated about 30 degrees in each direction to place one kidney, and then the other, parallel to the image receptor plane. a 30 degree left posterior oblique positions the right kidney parallel to the IR, and a 30 degree right posterior oblique positions the left kidney parallel.

Question 15

adipose capsule, or perirenal fat

Answer 15

the presence of these fatty capsules around the kidneys permits radiographic visualization of the kidneys on plain abdominal radiographs. a sufficient density difference betweeen fat andmuscle allows visualization of the outline of each kidney on most technically satisfactory abdominal radiographs.