Kidneys, Adrenal Glands, and Female Reproductive Tract Flashcards
Kidney functions
-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
Kidney positions
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
Kidney bloodflow
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
Kidney parts
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
Kidney parenchyma
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
Differences in cat and dog kidneys
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
Ureter
Carries urine from kidney to urinary bladder
Urethra
Carries urine from urinary bladder to vestibule in the female and tip of penis in male
Adrenal glands
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
Phrenicoabdominal artery
Courses along dorsal surface of adrenal gland
Phrenicoabdominal vein
Courses along ventral surface of adrenal gland
Female reproductive tract
Ovary
Uterine tube
Uterus (horn, body, cervix)
Vagina
Vestibule
Vulva
Broad ligament of uterus
Mesometrium - supports the uterus
Mesovarium - supports the ovary
Mesosalpinx - supports the uterine tube
Ovaries
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
Ligaments of the ovaries
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
Ovarian bursa
Peritoneal sac that encloses the ovary
Formed by mesovarium and mesosalpinx
Opening between peritoneal cavity and ovarian bursa
Uterine tube (oviduct, fallopian tube, salpinx)
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)
Types of uteri
Duplex uterus - rabbits
Bicornuate uterus, small body - dog, cat, cow, sow
Bicornuate uterus, large body - mare
Simple uterus - primate
Uterus
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
Cervix
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
Vagina
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
Vestibule
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
Vestibule muscles and glands
Constrictor vestibuli mm. - skeletal muscle in wall of vestibule
Major vestibular glands (cats) - produce mucous secretion for lubrication of vestibule during estrus
Blood supply of ovaries and uterus
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.
Ovariohysterectomy
Ligate and cut around ovarian pedicle (ovarian artery)
Removal of ovary and uterus
Pyometra
Accumulation of puss in uterus
Can happen in pseudopregnancy
Can be open or closed
