Kidney Flashcards
Where is the kidney located?
Retroperitoneally in the abdominal cavity against the posterior abdominal wall
Where does the left kidney lie?
T12 to L3
Where does the right kidney lie and why?
Slightly lower than left kidney due to position of liver
What lies superiorly to the kidneys?
Adrenal glands
What are the 4 layers of connective tissue surrounding the kidneys?
- Renal capsule
- Perirenal fat
- Renal fascia
- Pararenal fat
From deep to superficial
What is the clinical significance of fascial coverings?
TNM classification for renal cell carcinoma
What does the parenchyma contain?
Cortex -> Renal Column -> Renal pyramid
Medulla -> Renal pyramid -> Base + Renal papilla
What does 1 lobe of kidney contain?
1 pyramid and overlying cortex
Name the functional unit
Nephron
What are the 2 components of the nephron?
- Renal corpuscle
- Renal tubule
What does the renal corpuscle contain?
Glomerulus, glomerular capsule (Bowman’s capsule)
Bowman’s space is continuous with the ____ of renal tubule at the tubular pole
Bowman’s space is continuous with the lumen of renal tubule at the tubular pole
What are the layers of the Bowman’s capsule?
Parietal and Visceral layer
What does the parietal layer of the Bowman’s capsule contain?
- Basement membrane
- Squamous epithelium
What does the visceral layer of the Bowman’s capsule contain?
- Podocytes
- Basement membrane
- Squamous epithelium
What is the 3-layer filtration membrane of the renal corpuscle?
- Filtration pores of capillary
- Basement membrane
- Filtration silt (final barrier to proteins)
Outline the filtration flow chart in the renal corpuscle
Plasma > Filtration pores of capillary > Basement membrane > Filtration silt > Capsular space > PCT
What does the renal tubule contain?
- PCT
- Nephrone loop/Loop of Henle
- DCT
What are the cells of PCT?
Simple cuboidal epithelial cells with brush border
What is the main function of PCT?
Reabsorption from renal tubule to peritubular capillaries
- 65% filtered H2O
- Na+, K+, Mg2+, Cl-, PO4 3-
- 100% glucose, amino acids, plasma protein
Function of thin descending limb of Loop of Henle
Water reabsorbtion
Has squamous cells
Function of thick descending limb of Loop of Henle
Secrete solutes into interstitium via active transport
Has squamous cells
What are the cells of DCT?
Cuboidal epithelium, no brush border