Physiology Flashcards
What are the functions of the genito-urinary system?
Removes metabolic waste from blood by filtration and excretion
Regulates blood pressure by RAAS
Regulates plasma concentrations of electrolytes (Na, K, Cl)
Help to stabilise the pH
Conserve valuable nutrients
Reabsorption of small molecules (AAs, glucose, peptides)
Produces erythropoietin - a stimulant of RBC production by bone marrow
What is the position of the kidneys?
Lie retroperitoneal, at level of T12-L3
Right kidney is slightly lower than L
They are only partially peritonised
What are the different layers surrounding the kidneys?
Kidney surrounded by renal capsule
Capsule surrounded by perirenal fat
Fat surrounded by renal fascia
Pararenal fat then around fascia
Anterior to posterior, what is the order of the renal hilum?
Vein
Artery
Pelvis
Where are the constrictions of the ureter?
Ureter passes over inferior renal pole (Abdominal part)
Possible constriction where ureter passes behind testicular/ovarian vessels
Second when crosses over external iliac vessels (pelvic part)
Third when ureter traverses the bldder wall (intramural part)
What lymph nodes do the kidneys drain to?
Lateral aortic lymph nodes
Where do the vessels supplying the bladder branch from/drain to? Which lymph nodes does it drain to?
Internal iliac arteries/veins
Superolateral aspects of the bladder drain into the external iliac lymph nodes
The neck and fundus drain into the internal iliac lymph nodes
What are the folds in the bladder?
Two medial umbilical folds = occluded umbilical artery
Two lateral umbilical folds = inferior epigastric vessels
What are the different sections of the urethra? Where are the sphincters?
Preprostatic part of urethra (intramural)
Prostatic part of urethra - widest
Membranous part of urethra (intermediate) - narrowest
Spongy part of urethra (penile) - longest
Internal urethral sphincter at entrance to urethra from bladder - smooth muscle
External urethral sphincter after prostatic part of urethra - skeletal muscle
Which germ layers gives rise to the kidney?
Mesoderm (intermediate plate mesoderm)
What are the different stages in kidney development in the embryo, and what does each structure become?
Neck region intermediate mesoderm > pronephros (week 4-5), then degenerates
Trunk region intermediate mesoderm > mesonephros (late week 4-8) - functions as kidney then incorporated into gonads
Caudal region intermediate mesoderm + mesonephric duct > Metanephros (develops week 5, functions week 9) - duct becomes ureter and calyces, collecting tubules
- ureteric duct (from mesonephric duct) + metanephric mesoderm induce each other to form kidney
What rotation/movement of the kidney takes place in development?
‘Ascends’ as rest of body grows downwards
Rotates hilum 90degrees from ventral to medial
What are some abnormalities that may occur in kidney development?
Polycystic kidneys Aberrant renal arteries Lobulated kidneys Crossed kidneys, other abnormal positions Horseshoe kidney Pancake kidney
What is the average glomerular filtration rate?
180L/day
125mL/minute
What percentage of cardiac output does the kidney receive?
20-25%
What different push/pull pressures are there that are affecting net filtration pressure?
Hydrostatic pressure (BP) - from glomerulus to capsule
Oncotic pressure - from capsule to glomerulus (should be no protein in filtrate)
Fluid pressure of fluid in glomerulus
How is glomerular capillary pressure controlled?
Sympathetic nerves > afferent/efferent constriction (afferent more sensitive)
Circulating catecholamines - constriction primarily afferent
ATII - constriction of efferent at low concentrations, of both at high
Also intrinsic ability to respond to changes in arterial BP - autoregulation independent of nerves/hormones
Relative diameters of afferent vs efferent control glomerular capillary pressure
What are the normal levels of blood pressure the kidney can compensate for?
Mean BPs of 60-130mmHg
Filtration falls below 60 and ceases below 50
Roughly what percentage of plasma volume is filtered at the glomerulus, and what is reabsorbed?
~20% filtered at glomerulus
>19% reabsorbed (<1% excreted)