Renal System Anatomy

Question 1

What are the ureters?

Answer 1

Tubes draining urine from kidneys to bladder

Question 2

What does the bladder have that can open and close to allow urine pass into the urethra?

Answer 2

Sphincters

Question 3

What are the ribs that the kidneys are protected by numbered

Answer 3

11th and 12th

Question 4

Where do kidneys sit in relation to midline of abdomen?

Answer 4

• posterior
• retroperitoneal structures
• enclosed by peritoneum membrane

Question 5

Which kidney is more superior and why?

Answer 5

• left
• large bulk of liver displaces right kidney more inferiorly

Question 6

3 distinguishable areas of tissue

Answer 6

• fibrous capsule
• cortex
• medulla

Question 7

What surrounds the kidney

Answer 7

Fibrous capsule

Question 8

Cortex

Answer 8

Reddish brown tissue that lies immediately below capsule and outside pyramids

Question 9

Medulla

Answer 9

Innermost layer containing pyramids

Question 10

Nephrons

Answer 10

Tiny filtering tubes which pass from renal cortex into renal pyramids of medulla

Question 11

Two types of nephrons

Answer 11

• juxtamedullary nephron
• cortical nephron

Question 12

Where does glomerular filtration take place

Answer 12

Bowmans capsules

Question 13

Hilum of each kidney

Answer 13

Where ureters, artery and veins enter

Question 14

Average length of kidney

Answer 14

12cm

Question 15

What do we find medially to kidneys

Answer 15

• inferior vena cava
• abdominal aorta

Question 16

What surrounds kidneys

Answer 16

Perinephric fat

Question 17

Outer layer of ureter

Answer 17

• Fibroelastic adventitia
• continuous with renal fibrous capsule

Question 18

Middle muscular layer of ureter

Answer 18

Smooth muscle with longitudinal and circular fibres

Question 19

Inner layer of ureter

Answer 19

• mucosa
• transitional epithelium
• secretesmucus

Question 20

Urinary bladder

Answer 20

Muscular storage sac for urine with typical capacity of 400-600mls

Question 21

Where do the two ureters enter the bladder

Answer 21

Vesico-ureteric junctions which can also be regarded as passive valves

Question 22

Where does the left kidney typically lie

Answer 22

Vertebral level t12 to L2-3

Question 23

Where does the right kidney typically run from

Answer 23

Vertebral level L1 to L3-4

Question 24

Where do stones lodge themselves?

Answer 24

• narrowing of ureter
• at pelvic-ureteric junction
• where ureter crosses pelvic brim
• at vesico-ureteric junction

Question 25

Rugae

Answer 25

• folds in lining of empty bladder
  -gradually disappear as bladder fills

Question 26

Trigone

Answer 26

• no rugae in this area
• area between VUJs and opening into urethra

Question 27

Length of urethra in male and female

Answer 27

Female: 3-4cm long
Male: 20cm long (prostatic, membranous, penile)

Question 28

What do urinary sphincters do?

Answer 28

Control bladder emptying