Renal Anatomy/Physiology

Question 1

What limits the ascent of a horseshoe kidney?

Answer 1

Inferior Mesenteric Artery

Question 2

What space do the kidney’s occupy?

Answer 2

Retroperitoneal

Question 3

At what level do the kidney’s lie?

Answer 3

Left kidney - T12-L2

Right kidney - L1-L3 (lower down do to liver)

Question 4

Layers of fascia surrounding kidney

Answer 4

Kidney capsule –> perirenal fat –> renal fascia –> pararenal fat

Question 5

What is the arterial blood supply of the kidneys?

Answer 5

5 renal arteries –> interlobar artery –> arcuate artery –> interlobular arteries

Question 6

How does the Left Renal Vein differ from the Right Renal Vein?

Answer 6

Left Renal Vein is longer, and receives left gonadal and left suprarenal veins

Question 7

What is the positioning of vessels at the kidney hilum?

Answer 7

Vein anterior to artery anterior to ureter

Question 8

Where are the lymphatic plexuses of the kidney located?

Answer 8

In the kidney, under the fibrous capsule, and in perirenal fat

Question 9

What supplies the parasympathetic tone to the kidney?

Answer 9

Vagus nerve, CN X, vasodilation

Question 10

What are the three areas of constriction of the ureters?

Answer 10

1. Ureteropelvic junction
2. Iliac vessels
3. Ureterovesical junction

Question 11

Characteristics of an epithelial cell

Answer 11

Polarized
Stable Adhesions
Arranged in layers

Question 12

Characteristics of a mesenchymal cell

Answer 12

Undifferentiated, Unpolarized
Transient adhesions
Mobile

Question 13

What is the function of the urinary system prenatally?

Answer 13

Maintaining amniotic fluid

Question 14

What is oligohydramnios?

Answer 14

Lack of amniotic fluid

(Can impair growth and cause lung problems

Question 15

Which germ layer later becomes the kidneys and ureter?

Answer 15

Intermediate mesoderm

Question 16

What are the three nephric structures that from from the intermediate mesoderm (in order)?

Answer 16

Pronephros –> Mesonephros –> Metanephros

Question 17

What is an aberrant location for an un-ascended kidney?

Answer 17

Pelvic kidney

Question 18

Which arteriole of the renal corpuscle has the larger diameter?

Answer 18

Afferent arteriole

Question 19

What is the function of mesangial cells?

Answer 19

Filtration, support, phagocytosis

Question 20

Which cells make up the filter of the glomerulus?

Answer 20

Fenestrations of the endothelial cells
Basal Lamina of glomerulus
Slit membrane formed by foot processes of podocytes

Question 21

What are the two types of nephrons?

Answer 21

1. Cortical nephron

2. Juxtaglomerular nephron

Question 22

What cells secrete renin?

Answer 22

Juxtaglomerular

Question 23

What part of the nephron abuts the efferent and afferent arterioles?

Answer 23

Distal convoluted tubule

Question 24

Where is the macula densa?

Answer 24

Distal convoluted tubule

Question 25

Where are the juxtaglomerular cells?

Answer 25

Smooth muscle cells of the afferent arteriole

Question 26

What are renin's actions at the level of the nephron?

Answer 26

Increase blood pressure and GFR

Question 27

What epithelium lines the ureter?

Answer 27

Transitional

Question 28

What muscle lines the urinary bladder?

Answer 28

Detrusor muscle

Question 29

Which kidney is easier to palpate?

Answer 29

Right

Question 30

Are there anastomoses in the kidney?

Answer 30

No

Question 31

Describe the flood flow within the kidney

Answer 31

Renal artery --> segmental artery --> interlobar artery --> arcuate artery --> interlobular artery --> afferent arteriole --> glomerular capillary --> efferent arteriole --> peritubular capillary/vasa recta --> interlobular vein --> arcuate vein --> interlobar vein --> renal vein

Question 32

What is the sympathetic tone to the kidneys?

Answer 32

T10 --> L1

Question 33

What is the region of referred pain of the kidney?

Answer 33

T10 (umbilicus) to L1 (superpubic)

Question 34

What is the region of referred pain of the ureter?

Answer 34

T11 to L2

Question 35

What is the region of referred pain of the bladder?

Answer 35

L1 to L2

Question 36

What is the treatment for kidney stones?

Answer 36

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy

Question 37

How do kidney transplants usually occur?

Answer 37

Transplant left kidney to right pelvis

Question 38

What is the function of the proximal convoluted tubule?

Answer 38

Bulk transporter of most things

Question 39

What is the function of the loop of henle?

Answer 39

Creation of interstitial concentration gradient and important in urine concentration and water reabsorption

Question 40

What is the function of the distal tubule?

Answer 40

Sodium reabsorption

Question 41

What is the function of the collecting duct?

Answer 41

Fine tuning of fluid balance, electrolytes, acid/base balance