Renal Anatomy Flashcards
Describe the overall path of urine as it leaves the body?
Kidney -> ureter -> bladder -> urethra.
Where does transitional epithelium occur?
From ureter to upper urethra.
What makes up the upper and lower urinary tracts?
Upper: kidneys and ureters.
Lower: bladder and urethra.
What parts of the urinary tract are in the abdomen?
Kidneys and proximal parts of ureters.
What parts of the urinary tract are in the pelvis?
Distal parts of the ureters, bladder, proximal part of the urethra.
What part of the urinary tract is in the perineum?
Distal part of the urethra.
What 7 things protect the kidneys?
- being in the retroperitoneum.
- Vertebral column (transverse processes).
- Ribs 11&12.
- Skeletal muscles (guarding): muscles of the back, anterolateral abdominal wall, posterior abdominal wall.
- Renal (deep fascia).
- Paranephric and perinephric fat.
- Renal capsule.
What are the positions of the right and left kidneys?
Right: L1-L3.
Left: T12-L2.
What separates the paranephric and perinephric fat and what is closer to the kidney?
Renal (deep) fascia. Perinephric fat.
What are the structures of the renal hilum?
Ureter, renal artery, renal vein.
What is the arterial supply to the kidneys?
Left and right renal arteries.
What is the arterial supply to the ureters?
Arterial branches along its length from renal, gonadal and aorta.
What is the blood supply for each renal segment?
5 segmental branches arise from each renal artery.
Which of the right and left renal veins is longer and why?
Left, to cross the aorta and drain into the IVC.
Where do the right and left gonadal veins drain into?
Right into IVC, left into left renal vein.
What is the outermost layer of the kidney?
The renal capsule.
What is the 2nd outermost layer of the kidney?
Renal cortex.
What part of the kidney is inside the renal cortex?
The medulla.
What are the triangular formations in the renal medulla?
The renal pyramid.
Name the parts of a nephron from proximal to distal.
Renal corpuscle -> proximal convoluted tubule -> loop of henle -> distal convoluted tube -> collecting duct -> renal papilla.
What is the path of urine drainage in the kidney?
Nephron collecting ducts -> minor calyx -> major calyx -> renal pelvis -> ureter.
Where does the diameter of the urine drainage tubes constrict?
At the pelviureteric junction (where wider renal pelvis becomes narrower ureter).
Where are the 3 anatomic sites of ureteric constriction?
- Pelviureteric junction.
- Ureter crossing anterior aspect of common iliac artery.
- Ureteric orifice (opening into posterior surface of the bladder).
What is the bladder lined with and what does this allow?
Urothelium. Can stretch to permit the bladder to fil.
What happens in the bladder as it fills and why?
The apex rises and the trigone does not stretch or move (helps to prevent obstruction of the orifices).
What is the smooth muscle in the walls of the bladder called?
Detrusor.
What are the 2 bladder sphincters?
Sphincters at ureteric orifices (prevent reflux of urine) and bladder neck (internal urethral sphincter, prevents ejaculatory reflux and is only present in males).
What muscle forms the sphincters?
The detrusor.
What is the voluntary sphincter called?
External urethral sphincter.
What are the 3 characteristics of the female urethra?
- Short.
- Distensible.
- Opens into the vestibule.
What do the characteristics of the female urethra cause?
- UTIs are more common in females.
2. Females are easier to catheterise.
