Renal System Anatomy Flashcards
What are the ureters?
Tubes draining urine from kidneys to bladder
What does the bladder have that can open and close to allow urine pass into the urethra?
Sphincters
What are the ribs that the kidneys are protected by numbered
11th and 12th
Where do kidneys sit in relation to midline of abdomen?
- posterior
- retroperitoneal structures
- enclosed by peritoneum membrane
Which kidney is more superior and why?
- left
- large bulk of liver displaces right kidney more inferiorly
3 distinguishable areas of tissue
- fibrous capsule
- cortex
- medulla
What surrounds the kidney
Fibrous capsule
Cortex
Reddish brown tissue that lies immediately below capsule and outside pyramids
Medulla
Innermost layer containing pyramids
Nephrons
Tiny filtering tubes which pass from renal cortex into renal pyramids of medulla
Two types of nephrons
- juxtamedullary nephron
- cortical nephron
Where does glomerular filtration take place
Bowmans capsules
Hilum of each kidney
Where ureters, artery and veins enter
Average length of kidney
12cm
What do we find medially to kidneys
- inferior vena cava
- abdominal aorta
What surrounds kidneys
Perinephric fat
Outer layer of ureter
- Fibroelastic adventitia
- continuous with renal fibrous capsule
Middle muscular layer of ureter
Smooth muscle with longitudinal and circular fibres
Inner layer of ureter
- mucosa
- transitional epithelium
- secretesmucus
Urinary bladder
Muscular storage sac for urine with typical capacity of 400-600mls
Where do the two ureters enter the bladder
Vesico-ureteric junctions which can also be regarded as passive valves
Where does the left kidney typically lie
Vertebral level t12 to L2-3
Where does the right kidney typically run from
Vertebral level L1 to L3-4
Where do stones lodge themselves?
- narrowing of ureter
- at pelvic-ureteric junction
- where ureter crosses pelvic brim
- at vesico-ureteric junction
