Kidney Anatomy

Question 1

location/shape

Answer 1

each kidney:

• bean shaped
• size of soup can, weighs about 5oz

right kidney = slightly lower than left (bc of liver location)
mostly protected by ribcage
both located between T-12 and L-3 vert

Question 2

medial surface of kidney

Answer 2

• concave

- contains renal hilus

Question 3

renal hilus

Answer 3

• cleft on medial surface of kidney
• leads to renal sinus
• ureters, blood vessels, nerves enter/exit kidney via hilus

Question 4

3 layers of tissue protecting kidneys

Answer 4

1. renal capsule
2. adipose capsule
3. renal fascia

Question 5

renal capsule

Answer 5

• inner layer of tissue surrounding kidney
• basically the fibrous outer skin of kidney
• protects kidney from injury/

Question 6

adipose capsule

Answer 6

• fatty layer of tissue on top of renal capsule

- protects kidney from trauma

Question 7

renal fascia

Answer 7

• outer layer of tissue (on top of adipose capsule)
• dense fibrous connective tissue
• keeps kidney in place within abdominal cavity

Question 8

3 regions of kidney

Answer 8

1. renal cortex
2. renal medulla
3. renal pelvis

Question 9

renal cortex

Answer 9

• just inside renal capsule
• continuous outer region
  contains:
• cortical columns
• glomerular capsule of nephrons
• PCT + DCT of nephrons (+ associated blood vessels)

Question 10

cortical columns

Answer 10

projects from renal cortex that extend between pyramids of renal medulla

Question 11

renal medulla

Answer 11

• located deep to cortex
• divided into renal pyramids that point to the center of kidney
  contains:
• loop of Henle (of nephrons)
• collecting ducts (of nephrons) + associated blood vessels
• interlobar arteries pass thru renal pyramids

Question 12

renal pelvis

Answer 12

• centermost section of kidney located near renal hilus
• funnel shaped tube that connects to ureter as ureter leaves the hilus
• contains calyses

Question 13

calyses

Answer 13

• extensions from renal pelvis

- collect urine, which drains into ureter and then brought to bladder for storage

Question 14

kidney blood supply

Answer 14

• kidneys innervated by many blood vessels in order to regulate blood composition by filtering blood
• renal arteries deliver ~1200ml blood per minute from abd. aorta (20% of cardiac output!)

Question 15

kidney nerve supply

Answer 15

• kidneys interact with NS via renal plexus (fibers of renal plexus allow renal arteries to reach kidneys)
• sympathetic NS adjusts diameter of renal arteries to regulate renal blood flow

Question 16

path of blood entering kidneys (unfiltered)

Answer 16

renal arteries

• -> 5 segmental arteries
• -> lobar arteries
• -> interlobar arteries
• -> arcuate arteries
• -> interlobular arteries
• -> afferent arterioles
• -> glomeruli capillary beds for filtration

Question 17

path of blood leaving kidneys (filtered)

Answer 17

glomeruli capillary beds

• -> efferent arterioles
• -> peritubular capillaries
• -> interlobular veins
• -> arcuate veins
• -> interlobar veins
• -> renal vein (exits kidney)