Kidneys Flashcards
What is the anatomical positioning of the kindeys?
Paired retroperitoneal organs
Lie each side of the vertebral column between T12 and L3
What encloses the kidney and the suprarenal glands?
Renal fascia
What areas can the renal parenchyma be split into?
The outer Cortex and the inner Medulla
The cortex extends into the medulla dividing it into triangular shapes, what are these triangular shapes called?
Renal pyramids
What is the apex of a renal pyramid called?
Renal papilla
What structure is each renal papilla associated with?
Minor calyx
What structure do several minor calices merge to form?
Major Calyx
What do the minor calices do?
The collect urine from the renal pyramids
Where does urine pass into from the major calices?
The Renal Pelvis
What is the medial margin of each kidney marked by?
The Renal hilum, a deep fissure.
What does the renal hilum act as?
A gateway to the kideny- the renal vessels and ureter enter/exit the kidney via this structure.
What is the arterial supply to the kidney?
Renal arteries which arise directly from the aorta
Where do the renal arteries arise from the abdominal aorta?
immediately distal to to the origin of the superior mesenteric artery, slightly to the left of the midlne.
What is different about the right renal artery and why?
Due to the anatomical position of the AA the right renal artery is slightly longer than the left and crosses the vena cava posteriorly.
what is the functional unit of the kidney celled?
Nephron
