Genitourinary System Anatomy Flashcards
What is the peritoneum and what is its function?
Is a continous membrane which lines the abdominal cavity and covers the abdominal organs.
- Acts to support viscera and provides pathways for blood vessels and lymph to travel to and from viscera.
- There is a potential space between 2 layers of mesothelium
- It is a serous membrane
What are the 2 layers of peritoneum?
- Parietal
- Visceral
What does parietal peritoneum layer line?
-Lines internal surrface of abdominopelvic wall, lines abdominal and pelvic cavities.
What is parietal peritoneum layer derived from and what is its nerve supply from?
-Derived from somatic mesoderm in embryo.
-Recieves same somatic nerve supply as region of the abdomnal wall it lines therefore pain from this layer is well localised.
Sensitive to pain, pressure, laceration and temperature.
What does visceral peritoneum layer line?
-Covers external surfaces of most abdominal organs.
What is nerve supply for visceral layer?
Has same autonomic nerve supply as viscera it covers. Pain from visceral peritoneum poorly localised, referred to as areas of skin (dermatomes) which are supplied by the same sensory ganglia and spinal cord segments as nerve fibres innervating the viscera.
What are some examples of intraperitoneal organs?
-Spleen, stomach, liver
What are some examples of retroperitoneal organs?
-Not related to visceral peritoneum, only covers from anterior aspect eg. oesophagus, rectum, kidney, pancreas.
Where is the kidney located?
-Located at T 12 - L 3
At ribs 11 and 12.
What is the basic function of the kidney?
-Filter waste therefore produce urine
-Regulate blood : pressure, ions, pH, osmolarity, volume, glucose level
-Hormone production : calcitriol (active vitamin D), raises blood Ca levels by increasing absorption from gut, kidney and stimulation of release from bones.
EPO secreted in response to low blood glucose or hypoxia.
What are the 2 main areas in the kidney?
- Cortex: this is the supporting tissue of the kidney (the body) contains glomeruli, Bowman’s capsule and convoluted tubules.
- Medulla: this is the functional (parenchymal) tissue organised into renal pyramids.
What is the functional unit the nephron comprised of?
- Renal corpuscle; glomerulus and Bowman’s capsule
2. Renal tubules
Describe the flow of blood through the nephron at the start (afferent arterioles)?
-Blood comes in through afferent arteriole and is then filtered by glomerular capillaries into Bowman’s capsule.
Describe the flow of blood through the nephron at the start (proximal convoluted tubule PCT)?
From Bowman’s capsule, it then flows into PCT, here we start to reabsorb things we dont want to lose. Using energy it is pumped back into blood through nearby peritubular capillaries.
Describe the flow of blood through the nephron at the start (loop of henle)?
Passed PCT, filtrate into loop of henle, which crosses border between cortex and medulla.
Overall the loop acts as conc. gradient for fluids and electrolytes.
Describe the flow of blood through the nephron at the start (distal convoluted tubule DCT)?
From loop of henle, filtrate into DCT, more reabsorption here.
At end filtrate is mainly waste that is put into collecting ducts to take fluid back through medullar to leave kidney via ureters to bladder.
What supplies and drains kidney and where do they enter?
-Renal vein, nerve and artery which all enter at renal hilum.
Where does the renal artery come from?
Renal artery comes off aorta and will start to break down into interlobar arteries in kidney which will supply renal lobes.
What are some other blood vessels that supply the kidney?
- Cortical blood vessels also supply (supply the cortex).
- Arcuate blood vessels are formes and found at the border with the cortex and medulla and are shaped in arcs and come from interlobar arteries.
Where do renal arteries and veins lie?
- Renal arteries typically lie behind renal veins
- Renal veins drain directly into IVC, left usually longer.
