Genitourinary System Flashcards
Urinary system is formed of:
- kidney
- ureter
- urinary bladder
- urethra
What are some general features of the kidney?
- left is longer, narrower, higher
- right is lower because of right lobe of liver
- anterior surface is convex and irregular
- posterior surface is flat
Where are kidneys located?
- lie retroperitoneally on posterior abdominal wall (both sides of VC)
- hypochondrium and lumbar regions
- anterior-lateral/posterior-medial???
What are the posterior relations of the upper part of the kidneys
- diaphragm and medial and lateral arcuate ligaments
- costodiaphragmatic recess
-right (12th rib). Left (11th rib)
What are the posterior relations of the lower part of the kidneys?
- psoas, quadratus lamborum, aponeurotic origin of transversus abdomins
- subcostal nerve, artery
- iliohypogastic & ilioinguinal nerves
***paranephric fat separates structures
What are the internal structures of the kidney
- cortex (outer) and medulla (inner)
- medulla made of pyramids, apices open into minor calyces
- minor calyx–>major calyx–>renal pelvis–> ureter
- cortex–>renal column
- cortex+pyramid=renal lobe
Coverings of the kidney
- Renal capsule
- Perinephric fat
- Renal fascia
- Paranephric fat
- Peritoneum
Factors that support the kidneys
- renal fascia
- perinephric fat
- renal vessels
- abdominal viscera
- **weakness of results in nephroptosis (floating kidney)
Blood supply of the kidneys
- supplied 70% by single renal artery (branch from abdominal aorta)
- 30% accessory renal artery
Venous drainage of the kidneys
- right kidney: single renal vein–> IVC
- left kidney: renal vein can be doubled
-(L) renal vein drains: left gonadal vein, left suprarenal vein, sometimes left inferior phrenic vein
General shape of urinary bladder
-3 sided pyramid: apex; base (posterior surface), superior surface, two inferolateral surfaces
General location of the bladder
- inside pelvic cavity, most anterior of pelvic viscera
- lies posteriorly to pubis
- separated from pubis by fascia (retro-pubic space)
Location of urinary bladder (males)
-anterior to rectum, separated by rectovesicle pouch
Location of bladder (female)
-anterior to uterus and vagina, separated from by vesico-uterine pouch
Superior surface of the bladder
- superior to pelvic inlet is abdominal cavity/loops of intestine
- covered by peritoneum
- peritoneum forms two “paravesical fossae” with upper margin of inferolateral walls