kidneys - vasculature, lymph & clinical Flashcards
what are the kidneys supplied with blood via?
the renal arteries
where do the renal arteries arise directly from?
the abdominal aorta, immediately distal to the origin of the superior mesenteric artery
is left or right renal artery longer? why?
Due to the anatomical position of the abdominal aorta (slightly to the left of the midline), the right renal artery is longer
which structure does the right renal artery cross posteriorly?
crosses the vena cava posteriorly
where do the left & right renal arteries enter the kidneys via?
via the renal hilum
what happens when the left and right renal arteries enter the kidneys via the renal hilum?
it is divided into segmental branches
what happens to the segmental branches?
These branches undergo further divisions to supply the renal parenchyma
what do each segmental artery divide to form?
interlobar arteries
where are interlobar arteries situated?
either side every renal pyramid
what do interlobar arteries undergo to form?
interlobar arteries undergo further division to form the arcuate arteries.
where do the interlobular arteries arise?
At 90 degrees to the arcuate arteries
what do the interlobular arteries pass through? what happens as it does so?
The interlobular arteries pass through the cortex, dividing one last time to form afferent arterioles.
what do the afferent arterioles form?
a capillary network
where does filtration in the kidneys take place?
in the glomerulus
what do the capillaries come together to form?
The capillaries come together to form the efferent arterioles.
what happens in the outer 2/3rds of the cortex?
the efferent arterioles form what is a known as a peritubular network
what does the peritubular network supply?
supplying the nephron tubules with oxygen and nutrients
what are the inner 1/3 of the cortex and the medulla supplied by?
long, straight arteries called vasa recta
what are the kidneys venous blood drainage via?
by the left and right renal veins
where do the left and right renal veins leave the renal hilum?
They leave the renal hilum anteriorly to the renal arteries
where do the left and right renal veins empty directly into?
inferior vena cava
is the left or right renal vein longer? why?
As the vena cava lies slightly to the right, the left renal vein is longer
what does the left renal vein travel anteriorly to?
the abdominal aorta
lymph from the kidney drains into where?
the lateral aortic nodes
where are the lateral aortic nodes located?
at the origin of the renal arteries
how do the kidneys develop embryologically?
Embyrologically, the kidneys develop in the pelvis, and ascend into the abdomen.
what is pelvic kidney?
Occasionally, one of the kidneys can fail to ascend, and remains in the pelvis, at the level of the common iliac artery.
what is a horseshoe kidney? (also known as cake / fused kidney)
A horseshoe kidney consists of the two kidneys fused together, situated in the pelvis.
when does horseshoe kidney occur?
This occurs if the kidneys become too close together during their ascent from the pelvis to the abdomen
what do the horseshoe kidney becomes stuck underneath?
the inferior mesenteric artery
how is a horseshoe kidney drained by?
This type of kidney is still drained by two ureters, and is usually asymptomatic
what is horseshoe kidney prone to?
obstruction
what is renal dysgenesis?
is used to describe any underdevelopment of the kidneys
what are the 2 main forms of renal dysgenesis?
renal agenesis
renal hypoplasia
what is renal agenesis?
complete failure of one or both kidneys to develop
is renal agenesis usually uni or bilateral?
unilateral
what is renal hypoplasia?
the kidneys develop with a normal architecture, but are of a smaller size
