Kidney & Urinary Tract

Question 1

What muscle(s) do the kidneys lie against?

Answer 1

• psoas major

Question 2

Which organs are the right kidney associated with?

Answer 2

• the liver
• the 2nd part of the duodenum
• the ascending colon
• the small intestine

Question 3

Which organs are the left kidney associated with?

Answer 3

• the stomach
• the pancreas
• the descending colon
• the small intestine

Question 4

The kidneys are retroperitoneal. What does this mean?

Answer 4

• it means they are covered in front by peritoneum over most of their anterior surface, but not all of it

Question 5

Put the following in order starting from the kidney and heading outwards: pararenal fat, perinephric fat, renal capsule, renal fascia (Gerota’s Fascia)

Answer 5

• kidney –> renal capsule –> perinephric fat –> renal fasica (Gerota’s Fascia) –> pararenal fat (–> peritoneum)

Question 6

What contains the renal pelvis?

Answer 6

• the renal sinus

Question 7

How does a collecting tubule emerge into its minor calyx?

Answer 7

• via its papilla

Question 8

Projections of the cortex between the renal pyramids are known as:

Answer 8

• renal columns

Question 9

The striated-looking parts of the cortex immediately adjacent to each pyramid are known as:

Answer 9

• medullary rays

Question 10

Does the right renal artery pass in front of or behind the IVC?

Answer 10

• it passes behind the IVC

- (in most cases, veins are in front of arteries)

Question 11

Which renal artery is longer?

Answer 11

• the right renal artery is longer

Question 12

Does the left renal vein pass in front of or behind the aorta?

Answer 12

• it passes in front

- (in most cases, veins are in front of arteries)

Question 13

Which two large tributaries drain into the left renal vein?

Answer 13

• the left suprarenal and left gonadal veins

- (on the right side, these veins drain directly into the IVC)

Question 14

Renal Pedicle

Answer 14

• a region/collection made up of the ureter and the renal vein and artery (and part of the renal pelvis)

Question 15

The right ureter passes behind the _________; the left ureter passes behind the _________.

Answer 15

• right passes behind the 2nd part of the duodenum

- left passes behind the sigmoid colon

Question 16

What does each ureter almost constantly cross very close to?

Answer 16

• the bifurication of the common iliac artery into the internal and external iliac arteries

Question 17

In males, where does the ureter pass in relation to the ductus deferens and seminal vesicle?

Answer 17

• ureters pass below the ductus deferens and above the seminal vesicle

Question 18

T or F: the bladder is retroperitoneal.

Answer 18

• false!

- the bladder is actually extraperitoneal, meaning it lies in front of the peritoneum in the retropubic space

Question 19

What space does the bladder lie in?

Answer 19

• the retropubic space

Question 20

The ovoid enlargement of the _________ is known as the __________; it contains the ________.

Answer 20

• the ovoid enlargement of the urethral crest (in males) is the colliculus
• contains the prostatic utricle

Question 21

What is found on each side of the prostatic utricle?

Answer 21

• an ejaculatory duct

Question 22

The vesical arteries supply what organ?

Answer 22

• the bladder

- (“vesical” refers to the bladder)

Question 23

What is the projecting ridge along the posterior wall of the prostatic urethra called?

Answer 23

• urethral crest

Question 24

What is the groove found on each side of the urethral crest known as? What does each contain?

Answer 24

• the prostatic sinus

- each contains several prostatic ducts

Question 25

Name the parts of the male urethra from beginning to end.

Answer 25

• prostatic urethra –> membranous urethra –> bulbar urethra –> spongy/penile urethra –> urethral opening

Question 26

Which part of the male urethra is the least distensible?

Answer 26

• the membranous urethra

Question 27

Where is the external urethral orifice in the female?

Answer 27

• in the vestibule of the vagina

Question 28

Which kidney is normally lower than the other?

Answer 28

• the right (probably being slightly displaced by the liver)

Question 29

What is the term used for an abnormally low kidney?

Answer 29

• ptosed kidney

Question 30

What develops into the kidney during embryogenesis? What are its two major parts?

Answer 30

• the metanephros becomes the kidney

- it is made up of the ureteric bud and the metanephric mesoderm/blastema