Kidneys, Adrenal Glands, and Female Reproductive Tract

Question 1

Kidney functions

Answer 1

-Remove toxins from bloodstream and produce urine
-Conserve salts, glucose, proteins, and water and regulate blood pressure, hemodynamics, and acid-base balance of the body
-Produce renin and erythropoietin

Question 2

Kidney positions

Answer 2

Positioned retroperitoneally against sublumbar muscles along dorsal abdominal body wall; only ventral surface is covered by peritoneum

Right kidney - right cranial and caudal quadrants
Left kidney - left cranial and caudal quadrants

Question 3

Kidney bloodflow

Answer 3

Renal arteries - supply blood to the kidneys; arise from aorta
Renal veins - drain blood from kidneys to caudal vena cava
Renal lymph nodes - located at hilus of kidney

Question 4

Kidney parts

Answer 4

Fibrous capsule - thin and loosely adhered to kidney
Renal hilus - entrance/exit of renal artery a. and v., ureter, and lymphatics
Renal silus - cavity of kidney; contains renal pelvis, fat, vessels, lymphatics, and nerves
Renal pelvis; initial dilated portion of ureter; funnel-shaped structure; receives urine from collecting ducts of kidney and passes into ureter
Pelvic recesses - extensions of renal pelvis located between renal pyramids

Question 5

Kidney parenchyma

Answer 5

Cortex - peripherally located; contains primarily renal corpuscles, convoluted tubules, and medullary rays
Medulla - medullary rays contain straight tubules and collecting ducts; renal pyramids and renal crest

Question 6

Differences in cat and dog kidneys

Answer 6

Feline kidneys are more easily palpated
Feline kidneys have subcapsular veins - multiple large veins on cortical surface that drain into renal vein at hilus
Renal crest is different - longitudinal in crest in dogs, cone-shaped in cats

Question 7

Ureter

Answer 7

Carries urine from kidney to urinary bladder

Question 8

Urethra

Answer 8

Carries urine from urinary bladder to vestibule in the female and tip of penis in male

Question 9

Adrenal glands

Answer 9

Function: Cortex produces mineralocorticoids, corticosteroids, sex hormones. Medulla produces epi and norepi
Located cranial to kidneys; retroperitoneal
Right adrenal gland is closely associated with caudal vena cava

Question 10

Phrenicoabdominal artery

Answer 10

Courses along dorsal surface of adrenal gland

Question 11

Phrenicoabdominal vein

Answer 11

Courses along ventral surface of adrenal gland

Question 12

Female reproductive tract

Answer 12

Ovary
Uterine tube
Uterus (horn, body, cervix)
Vagina
Vestibule
Vulva

Question 13

Broad ligament of uterus

Answer 13

Mesometrium - supports the uterus
Mesovarium - supports the ovary
Mesosalpinx - supports the uterine tube

Question 14

Ovaries

Answer 14

Function: produce ova and hormones
Located dorsally in the abdomen at the caudal pole of kidneys (right is more cranial than left)
Supported by mesovarium

Question 15

Ligaments of the ovaries

Answer 15

Proper ligament of ovary - courses between ovary and uterine horn
Suspensory ligament of ovary - courses between ovary and transversalis fascia of body wall; holds ovary in relatively fixed position; manually broken down during OHE to aid in removal of ovary

Question 16

Ovarian bursa

Answer 16

Peritoneal sac that encloses the ovary
Formed by mesovarium and mesosalpinx
Opening between peritoneal cavity and ovarian bursa

Question 17

Uterine tube (oviduct, fallopian tube, salpinx)

Answer 17

Courses between ovarian bursa and uterine horn, first cranially and then caudally along lateral side of bursa
Fertilization normally occurs here
Supported by mesosalpinx which attaches uterine tube to mesovarium

Regions:
-Infundibulum (with fimbria along edge)
-Ampulla
-Isthmus (tubouterine junction - between uterine tube and horn)

Question 18

Types of uteri

Answer 18

Duplex uterus - rabbits
Bicornuate uterus, small body - dog, cat, cow, sow
Bicornuate uterus, large body - mare
Simple uterus - primate

Question 19

Uterus

Answer 19

Function: provides area for attachment of fertilized ova and source of fetal nourishment

Regions:
-Uterine horns
-Uterine body
-Cervix

Supported by mesometrium
Round ligament of uterus - courses from tip of uterine horn to vaginal process in dog, vaginal ring in cat

Question 20

Cervix

Answer 20

Constricted caudal portion of uterus
Cervical canal - passageway within cervix
Internal uterine ostium - opening of cervix into body of uterus; dorsally located
External uterine ostium - opening of cervix into vagina; ventrally located

Question 21

Vagina

Answer 21

Region of reproductive tract located between cervix and vestibule
Composed of circular muscle fibers and longitudinal mucosal folds
Vaginal fornix - extends cranial to cervix; ventrally located

Question 22

Vestibule

Answer 22

Located between vagina and vulva
Urethra drains into vestibule at urethral tubercle by way of external urethral orifice (located ventrally)

Clitoris
-Female homologue of penis
-Glans clitoridis - erectile tissue structure
-Fossa clitoridis - depression in floor of vestibule in which glans clitoridis sits

Vestibular bulbs - erectile tissue; homologue to bulb of penis in male; located in floor and ventrolateral wall of vestibule

Question 23

Vestibule muscles and glands

Answer 23

Constrictor vestibuli mm. - skeletal muscle in wall of vestibule

Major vestibular glands (cats) - produce mucous secretion for lubrication of vestibule during estrus

Question 24

Blood supply of ovaries and uterus

Answer 24

Ovarian artery - arises from aorta; supplies ovary, ovarian bursa, uterine tube and uterine horn

Uterine artery - arises from vaginal artery which arises from internal iliac artery; main blood supply to uterus

Ovarian vein - right ovarian v. drains into caudal vena cava, left ovarian v. drains into left renal vein

Uterine vein - drains into vaginal v. which drains into internal iliac v.

Question 25

Ovariohysterectomy

Answer 25

Ligate and cut around ovarian pedicle (ovarian artery)

Removal of ovary and uterus

Question 26

Pyometra

Answer 26

Accumulation of puss in uterus
Can happen in pseudopregnancy
Can be open or closed