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USMLE > Renal Anatomy > Flashcards

Renal Anatomy Flashcards

1
Q

What is the vertebral level of the kidneys?

A

T12-L3

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2
Q

Which kidney is lower and why?

A

The R, because of the position of the liver

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3
Q

What is the innervation of the kidneys?

A

Thoracic splanchnic nerves

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4
Q

What is the lymphatic drainage of the kidney?

A

Lumbar nodes

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5
Q

What fascia encloses the kidneys?

A

Gerota fascia

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6
Q

What are the muscles of the posterior abdominal wall?

A

Psoas major; psoas minor; iliacus; quadratus lumborum

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7
Q

To what are the psoas major, psoas minor and iliacus collectively referred?

A

Iliopsoas muscle

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8
Q

What is the mneumonic SAD PUCKER used to refer?

A

The retroperitoneal structures

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9
Q

What does SAD PUCKER stand for?

A 
S = suprarenal glands
A = aorta
D = duodenum
P = pancreas (except the tail)
U = ureters
C = colon (ascending and descending)
K = kidneys
E = esophagus
R = rectum
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10
Q

What is contained within the medulla of the kidneys?

A

Renal pyramids; renal papillae; minor calyces; major calyces

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11
Q

What is the drainage order of the kidneys?

A

Renal pyramids — renal papillae — minor calyces — major calyces — renal pelvis — ureter

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12
Q

What is the course of the ureters?

A 
1st = cross UNDER the gonadal arteries
2nd = in the pelvis, pass ANTERIOR to the external iliac artery at the point it branches from the common iliac artery
3rd = crosses UNDER the uterine artery/vas deferens (F/M) (water UNDER the bridge)
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13
Q

Where in the ureters are kidney stones most likely to form?

A
  1. Utero-renal pelvic junction
  2. Where the external iliac artery cause constriction of the ureter
  3. Vesico-uteric junction
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14
Q

What makes up the points of the trigone?

A

2x ureters + 1x urethral orifice

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15
Q

What type of epithelium lines the bladder?

A

Transitional epithelium

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16
Q

What are the segments that make up the male urethra?

A

Prostatic + membranous + penile

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17
Q

What is the epithelium of the prostatic urethra?

A

= transitional

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18
Q

What is the epithelium of the penile urethra?

A

= pseudostratified columnar, then stratified squamous

19
Q

Where is the external urethral sphincter located?

A

Surround the membranous urethra

20
Q

What are the Littre glands?

A

Glands that open along the penile urethra to secrete mucus

21
Q

Which is the longest segment of the male urethra?

22
Q

What are the zones of the prostate?

A

Transitional, central and peripheral

23
Q

In which segment of the prostate does BPH occur?

A

Transitional

24
Q

What is a nephron composed of?

A

Renal corpuscle + tubular system

25
Q

What is the renal corpuscle composed of?

A

Glomerulus + Bowman’s capsule

26
Q

What supplies, and what drain the glomerulus?

A

Afferent arteriole = supply

Efferent arteriole = drain

27
Q

What type of endothelium does the glomerulus have?

A

Fenestrated

28
Q

What is the filtration barrier composed of?

A
  1. Fenestrated capillary endothelium
  2. Basement membrane
  3. Slit diaphragms between adjacent foot processus of podocytes
29
Q

What are the layers of the Bowman’s capsule?

A
  1. Visceral layer - involved in filtration

2. Parietal layer - NOT involved in filtration

30
Q

What lines the PCT?

A

Simple cuboidal epithelium

31
Q

What are the functions of the PCT?

A

Reabsorption of all glucose + amino acids, and most of the Na+, H20, HCO3-, Cl- and PO43-

32
Q

What occurs in the descending limb of the LoH?

A

Passive reabsorption of H20

Impermeable to Na+

33
Q

What occurs in the ascending limb of the LoH?

A

Impermeable to H20

Actively pumps out Na+, i.e. Na+ is reabsorbed

34
Q

What lines the DCT?

A

Simple cuboidal epithelium

35
Q

What are the functions of the DCT?

A

Impermeable to H20

Actively reabsorbs Na+ (i.e. functions the same as the ascending limb of the LoH)

36
Q

What lines the collecting tubules?

A

Simple cuboidal epithelium

37
Q

What does aldosterone cause the reabsorption of?

A

Na+ - it being reabsorbed in exchange for K+ and H+

38
Q

What does ADH cause the reabsorption of?

39
Q

Where do aldosterone and ADH act?

A

Collecting tubules

40
Q

What is the JGA made up of?

A

Macula densa + juxtaglomerular cells

41
Q

What is the function of the JGA?

A

Functions to maintain he GFR in response to changes in BP in the afferent arterioles

42
Q

Where are the macula dense cells found + what do they do?

A

In the thick ascending limb and DCT (coming into close contact with the afferent and efferent arterioles).

The cells are sensitive to changes in Na+ concentration and rate of flow, and regular GFR though the action of locally active hormones.

43
Q

Where are the juxtaglomerular cells found + what do they do?

A

In the afferent arterioles.

Act as baroreceptors, monitoring changes in BP, then maintain GFR through the release of renin (part of RAAS).

USMLE (14 decks)

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