Kidney Anatomy

Question 1

Mention tissue layers surrounding the kidneys and their functions

Answer 1

Renal fascia: connective tissue that anchor the kidneys in place and defines the perirenal space

Perirenal fat ( pernephritic fat): adipose tissue that insulate the kidneys from shock and maintain temperature

Renal capsule: tough, fibrous , transparent tissue that protects the kidneys from trauma and infections

Question 2

What is renal hilum?

Answer 2

It is the area in the concave side of the kidneys where there is an opening that allows arteries, veins, lymphatics and nerves to enter and leave the kidneys

Question 3

Renal sinus

Answer 3

It is a space within the kidneys just after the hilum containing blood vessels, nerves, minor and major calyx, renal pelvis and fat.

Question 4

The outermost layer of the kidney located just beneath the capsule is called?

Answer 4

Renal cortex

Question 5

What is the primary function of renal cortex?

Answer 5

Filtration

Question 6

Extensions of the renal cortex that project to the inner part of the kidneys are called, what are their functions?

Answer 6

Renal columns | to support cortical tissue of the kidney, distinguishing renal lobes, contain blood vessels that supply blood to cortex and medulla

Question 7

Pyramid shaped structures in the renal medulla? Components? Function?

Answer 7

Renal pyramids | loop of henle, collecting ducts | filtering and concentrating urine

Question 8

The tip/ apex of the renal pyramids is known as ? Function?

Answer 8

Renal papilla | to empty the urine into the minor calyces

Question 9

How many renal pyramids does each kidney have?

Answer 9

8-18

Question 10

Cup shaped cavity at the apex of the renal pyramid enclosing the renal papilla is called? Function

Answer 10

Minor calyx || to collect urine from the renal papilla amd channeling it to the major calyx

Question 11

Structure formed by convergence of several minor calyces? Function?|| how many major calyces for each kidney?

Answer 11

Major calyx || to collect urine from minor calyx || about two to three, they converge to form the renal pelvis

Question 12

Structure formed by the convergence of two or three major calyces? Function

Answer 12

Renal pelvis || it acts as a reservoir for urine collected from the major calyces and narrows down to form ureter

Question 13

Describe urine flow

Answer 13

Renal cortex- renal pyramids- renal papilla-minor calyx-major calyx-pelvis-ureter-bladder- urethra

Question 14

Describe renal blood flow

Answer 14

Abdominal aorta- renal artery- segmental artery- interlobar artery- arcuate artery- cortical radiate artery- afferent arteriole- glomeruli- efferent arteriole- peritubular capillaries- cortical radiate veins- arcuate veins- interlobar veins- Renal vein

Question 15

Branches of capillaries that come out of efferent arterioles supplying the juxtamedullary nephrons ( loop of henle) are called?

Answer 15

Vasa recta

Question 16

Describe the structure of the nephron and collecting duct

Answer 16

Nephron : Renal corpuscle( Glomeruli and bowman’s capsule)- proximal convoluted tubule- thick descending loop of henle- thin descending loop of henle- thick ascending loop of henle- distal convoluted tubule

Collecting duct- pillary duct

Question 17

What cells form the juxtaglomerular apparatus?

Answer 17

1. Juxta glomerular cells ( baroreceptors) - afferent arteriole
2. Macula densa cells ( chemoreceptors) I- distal convoluted tubule
3. Extraglomerular mesangial cells

Question 18

Layers of the bowman’s capsule?

Answer 18

Visceral layer- podocytes
Pariental layer - simple squamous epithelium

Question 19

Proximal convoluted tubule is made of which kind of epithelium?

Answer 19

Simple cuboidal epithelium