Renal Anatomy

Question 1

Describe the overall path of urine as it leaves the body?

Answer 1

Kidney -> ureter -> bladder -> urethra.

Question 2

Where does transitional epithelium occur?

Answer 2

From ureter to upper urethra.

Question 3

What makes up the upper and lower urinary tracts?

Answer 3

Upper: kidneys and ureters.
Lower: bladder and urethra.

Question 4

What parts of the urinary tract are in the abdomen?

Answer 4

Kidneys and proximal parts of ureters.

Question 5

What parts of the urinary tract are in the pelvis?

Answer 5

Distal parts of the ureters, bladder, proximal part of the urethra.

Question 6

What part of the urinary tract is in the perineum?

Answer 6

Distal part of the urethra.

Question 7

What 7 things protect the kidneys?

Answer 7

1. being in the retroperitoneum.
2. Vertebral column (transverse processes).
3. Ribs 11&12.
4. Skeletal muscles (guarding): muscles of the back, anterolateral abdominal wall, posterior abdominal wall.
5. Renal (deep fascia).
6. Paranephric and perinephric fat.
7. Renal capsule.

Question 8

What are the positions of the right and left kidneys?

Answer 8

Right: L1-L3.
Left: T12-L2.

Question 9

What separates the paranephric and perinephric fat and what is closer to the kidney?

Answer 9

Renal (deep) fascia. Perinephric fat.

Question 10

What are the structures of the renal hilum?

Answer 10

Ureter, renal artery, renal vein.

Question 11

What is the arterial supply to the kidneys?

Answer 11

Left and right renal arteries.

Question 12

What is the arterial supply to the ureters?

Answer 12

Arterial branches along its length from renal, gonadal and aorta.

Question 13

What is the blood supply for each renal segment?

Answer 13

5 segmental branches arise from each renal artery.

Question 14

Which of the right and left renal veins is longer and why?

Answer 14

Left, to cross the aorta and drain into the IVC.

Question 15

Where do the right and left gonadal veins drain into?

Answer 15

Right into IVC, left into left renal vein.

Question 16

What is the outermost layer of the kidney?

Answer 16

The renal capsule.

Question 17

What is the 2nd outermost layer of the kidney?

Answer 17

Renal cortex.

Question 18

What part of the kidney is inside the renal cortex?

Answer 18

The medulla.

Question 19

What are the triangular formations in the renal medulla?

Answer 19

The renal pyramid.

Question 20

Name the parts of a nephron from proximal to distal.

Answer 20

Renal corpuscle -> proximal convoluted tubule -> loop of henle -> distal convoluted tube -> collecting duct -> renal papilla.

Question 21

What is the path of urine drainage in the kidney?

Answer 21

Nephron collecting ducts -> minor calyx -> major calyx -> renal pelvis -> ureter.

Question 22

Where does the diameter of the urine drainage tubes constrict?

Answer 22

At the pelviureteric junction (where wider renal pelvis becomes narrower ureter).

Question 23

Where are the 3 anatomic sites of ureteric constriction?

Answer 23

1. Pelviureteric junction.
2. Ureter crossing anterior aspect of common iliac artery.
3. Ureteric orifice (opening into posterior surface of the bladder).

Question 24

What is the bladder lined with and what does this allow?

Answer 24

Urothelium. Can stretch to permit the bladder to fil.

Question 25

What happens in the bladder as it fills and why?

Answer 25

The apex rises and the trigone does not stretch or move (helps to prevent obstruction of the orifices).

Question 26

What is the smooth muscle in the walls of the bladder called?

Answer 26

Detrusor.

Question 27

What are the 2 bladder sphincters?

Answer 27

Sphincters at ureteric orifices (prevent reflux of urine) and bladder neck (internal urethral sphincter, prevents ejaculatory reflux and is only present in males).

Question 28

What muscle forms the sphincters?

Answer 28

The detrusor.

Question 29

What is the voluntary sphincter called?

Answer 29

External urethral sphincter.

Question 30

What are the 3 characteristics of the female urethra?

Answer 30

1. Short.
2. Distensible.
3. Opens into the vestibule.

Question 31

What do the characteristics of the female urethra cause?

Answer 31

1. UTIs are more common in females.

2. Females are easier to catheterise.