Kidneys Wk11 Flashcards
Identify the location of the kidney, its position in
the abdomen and relationship to adjacent
structures
Retroperitoneal structure, posterior to abdominal wall embedded with perinephric fat
- dorsal surface in contact with diaphragm, psoas and quadratus lumborum
What is the role of urinary system?
Role in
homeostasis and reproduction (male)
What is the ventral location of right kidney?
Ventral surface of right kidney in contact with liver, right colic/hepatic flexure, duodenum
What is the ventral surface of the left kidney?
Tail of pancreas and left colic/splenic flexure
What structure is the kidney?
Posterior and retroperitoneal
What vertebral levels are the kidneys located in?
Extends b/w T12 – L3
What fat is the kidney situated in?
Perinephric fat
Where are the adrenals located in relation to kidney?
- Adrenals on top of the superior poles
Why is the right kidney inferior to left kidney?
- Right kidney inferior to left kidney (due to liver)
What are landmarks of the kidney?
Superior, inferior pole
Anterior, posterior surface
Medial, lateral margin
Renal hilum
Renal sinus
What is the kidney encased in?
Encased in very firm fibrous capsule
Renal cortex contains
filtering apparatus
(renal corpuscles and convoluted tubules)
Pyramids or renal medulla
contains blood
vessels, loops of Henle, collecting ducts
Renal papilla empties the
urine into our minor calyx, which connects to major calyx to the renal pelvis and then to the ureter
Name the blood supply and venous drainage of
the kidney
Paired renal arteries - below superior mesenteric art (L1-2)
Venous drainage via renal veins (anterior to renal
arteries), drain into IVC
Left renal vein is longer than
right vein as it drains into the IVC
Vasculature of kidney
- Renal arteries branch to segmental art
- Avascular zone = no blood supply here: Brodalʼ s line
- Terminal branch of arterial supply – few anastomoses
What are the structures of the kidney?
-Renal corpuscle (glomerulus & Bowman’s
capsule) – filter
- Proximal convoluted tubule, loop of
Henle’s, distal convoluted tube & collecting tube
What is the basic functional unit of the kidney?
Nephron is the basic functional unit of the
kidney (microscopic)
Explain how structures of the kidney are involved
in the production of urine
The renal corpulse filters - secretes and resabsorbs substances into filtrate in the tube system - urine is emptied in collecting duct, minor/major calyces and renal pelvis
