Renal System Flashcards
What makes up the upper urinary tract?
Kidney and ureter
What makes up the lower urinary tract?
Bladder and urethra
How is the bladder specialised for the storage/voidance of urine?
Its ability to expand
What type of epithelium lines the ureter to upper urethra?
Transitional epithelium (aka uroepithelium)
How is the transitional epithelial lining of the ureter-upper urethra an adaptation?
Allows expansion
What are the (7) functions of the kidneys?
Blood pH control Fluid balance Electrolyte balance BP control Metabolism of waste products and drugs Stimulate RBC production Required for calcium absorption
Are the kidneys and proximal parts of the ureter intra- or retroperitoneal?
Retroperitoneal
Where are distal parts of the ureters, bladder and proximal part of the urethra located?
The pelvis
The pelvis is marked by the iliac crest at which vertebral level?
L4
Where is the distal part of the urethra located?
In the perineum
What protects the kidneys? (7)
Being retroperitoneal Vertebral column Ribs 11&12 Skeletal muscle guarding Renal (deep) fascia Para-perinephric fat Renal capsule
What is the arterial supply to the kidneys?
Right and left renal artery
The ureter receives arterial supply from which 3 bilateral branches of the abdominal aorta along its length?
Renal
Gonadal
Aorta
The renal arteries divide into _ segmental branches each to supply nephrons
5
Which vein drains the kidneys?
Right and left renal vein
Which, of the right and left renal vein, is shorter?
Right is shorter than left
The right gonadal vein drains into the?
IVC
The left gonadal vein drains into the?
Left renal vein
What is the functional unit of the kidney?
The nephron
What is the site for ultrafiltration?
The glomerulus
The collecting duct passes through _________ to drain the modified filtrate through the ______ as urine
renal pyramid
renal papilla
Urine drains from the kidneys’ collecting ducts into the minor then major ____ then into the renal _____ and then into the ureter
calyx
pelvis
The diameter of urine drainage tubes increases until constriction at which junction?
Pelviuretic junction
What can for from urine calcium salts and obstruct the urinary tract from within?
Renal calculi (aka kidney stones)
What are possible sites of obstruction in the urinary tract? (3)
Pelviuretic junction
Ureter crossing the anterior aspect of the common iliac artery
Ureteric orifice
How does the body respond to obstruction of ureter(s)?
Increasing peristalsis proximal to obstruction site to try and flush it towards the bladder
Renal colic pain is caused by?
obstruction of the ureters
The bladder releases urine during _______ via the ____-
Micturition
Urethra
What lines the bladder wall?
Urothelium
What does urothelium allow for?
Stretching
Which part of the bladder is especially “stretchable”?
The apex of the bladder (rises as it fills)
Which part of the bladder doesn’t move or stretch?
Trigone
What is the protective function of the trigone not stretching?
Helps prevent obstruction of origices
What encircles uriteric orifices?
Detrusor muscle fibres
Are detrusor muscle fibres smooth or skeletal muscle?
Smooth
The detrusor muscles ____ during micturition
contract
As the bladder fills, ____ receptors send signals that cause constriction and the feeling of having to pee
stretch
The external urethral sphincter consists of smooth or skeletal muscle?
Skeletal
The internal urethral sphincter prevents _______ and is only present in males
Ejaculatory reflux
Why is the penile urethra called spongy urethra?
Because you can see erectile bodies and urethra passes through the corpus spongiosum
What is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)? What is its implication?
Non-cancerous hyperplasia in the transitional zone of the prostate that impinges on the prosthetic urethra leading to difficulty passing during, increase in urine frequency and involuntary urination in older men
How is a urinary catheter placed?
Pass catheter thorugh genitalia into the bladder and then inflate
What do you do if there is a blockage and the urinary catheter can’t be inserted?
You can use a suprapubic catheter; into the bladder via the anterior abdominal wall
Where should the urinary catheter bag be kept?
Inferior to the bladder so urincan flow easily
The female urethra is short, distensible and opens into the?
Vestibule
Why are UTIs more common in females than males?
Shorter distance so microbes don’t need to travel as far
What makes the female urethra distensible?
Elastic tissue in walls
Obstruction within the calyces of the ureter causes _________ back-pressure of urine
Unilateral
Obstruction within bladder may cause ___- or _________ kidney problems
Uni or bilateral
Urine production continues unti leghe pressure in the urinary trac?
Exceeds the pressure favouring filtration at the glomerulus
What is renal failure?
Failure to adequately filter the blood to produce urin
