Lesson 4A (Part 1)

Question 1

What is the functioning unit of the kidney?

Answer 1

Nephron

Question 2

What enters at the hilum of the kidney?

Answer 2

Main renal artery

Question 3

What is the arterial branching order? (4)

Answer 3

1. Segmental artery
2. Interlobar/interlobar arteries
3. Arcuate artery
   - cortex
4. Interlobular artery

Question 4

What exits at the hilum of the kidney?

Answer 4

Main renal vein

Question 5

Are kidneys intra or retroperitoneal?

Answer 5

Retroperitoneal

Question 6

What are the 3 dimensions of the kidney?

Answer 6

1. Length = 9-12 cm
2. Width = 4-5 cm
3. Height = 2.5-3 cm

Question 7

What is the minimum cortical thickness?

Answer 7

1 cm

Question 8

What does it mean if the cortical thickness is less than 1 cm?

Answer 8

It indicates a renal disease

Question 9

What are the functions of the kidney? (7)

Answer 9

1. Produces hormones
2. Absorbs minerals, filters blood and produces urine
3. Balances water
   - autoregulatory
4. Blood pressure regulation
   - hormone renin
5. Sodium and water are increased and decreased if necessary
6. Blood cell regulation by hormone erythropoeitin-stimulates bone marrow to produce more RBCs
7. Acid regulation-keeps a healthy balance

Question 10

What is the sonographers role when scanning the urinary system? (2)

Answer 10

1. Patient history is important

2. Patient should be properly prepared with a full bladder to assess complete urinary tract

Question 11

What is colour doppler useful for when scanning the urinary system?

Answer 11

To find the ureteric jets

Question 12

What do jets tell us?

Answer 12

Whether there is an obstruction or not

Question 13

What are potential lab values we can get with the urinary system? (4)

Answer 13

1. Creatinine
2. BUN
3. Hematuria
4. Proteinuria

Question 14

What is the normal range of creatinine?

Answer 14

0.6-1.2 mg/dL

Question 15

Creatinine

Answer 15

Is a waste product produced from meat protein and normal wear and tear on the muscles in the body

Question 16

What is the most specific way in determining any renal dysfunction?

Answer 16

Creatinine

Question 17

When is creatinine elevated? (3)

Answer 17

1. Renal failure
2. Chronic nephritis
3. Urinary obstruction

Question 18

BUN

Answer 18

Blood urea nitrogen

Question 19

What is the normal BUN range?

Answer 19

11-23 mg/dL

Question 20

What is BUN produced from?

Answer 20

The breakdown of food proteins

Question 21

When is BUN elevated? (3)

Answer 21

1. Urinary obstruction
2. Renal dysfunction
3. Dehydration

Question 22

When is BUN decreased? (5)

Answer 22

1. Over hydration
2. Pregnancy
3. Liver failure
4. Decrease in protein intake
5. Smoking

Question 23

Microscopic hematuria

Answer 23

Visible microscopic red blood cells in the urine under the microscope

Question 24

What is microscopic hematuria associated with?

Answer 24

Early renal disease

Question 25

Macroscopic hematuria

Answer 25

Visible with the naked eye

- visible blood in the urine

Question 26

What is macroscopic hematuria associated with? (2)

Answer 26

1. Infection

2. Bladder neoplasms

Question 27

Proteinuria

Answer 27

Abnormal amount of protein in the urine

Question 28

What is proteinuria associated with? (7)

Answer 28

1. Nephritis
2. Nephrolithiasis
3. Carcinoma
4. Polycystic disease
5. Hypertension
6. Diabetes mellitus
7. Increases the risk of developing progressive renal dysfunction

Question 29

What are 8 indications for a urinary tract US?

Answer 29

1. Increase in creatinine, BUN levels and proteinuria
2. Urinary tract infection
3. Flank pain
4. Hematuria
5. Hypertension
6. Decrease in urine output
7. Trauma
8. Evaluate mass from other medical imaging
   - CT