Renal tract anatomy

Question 1

How long is a normal kidney?

Answer 1

10-11 cm

Question 2

What attachment do kidneys have?

Answer 2

retropertoneal

Question 3

At what vertebral level are the kidneys?

Answer 3

T12-13

Question 4

What does a nephron consist of?

Answer 4

glomerulus
renal tubule
interstitium
enveloped by vascular network

Question 5

What does the renal tubule consist of?

Answer 5

Proximal Convoluted Tubule
Loop of Henle
Distal Convoluted Tubule
Collecting Ducts

Question 6

What is a glomerulus?

Answer 6

knot of capillaries
surrounded by Bowman’s capsule
first stage in the filtering process

Question 7

What is the renal microvasculature? (arterioles)

Answer 7

afferent arteriole – enters Bowmans Capsule dividing into knot of capillaries = Glomerulus
efferent arteriole – capillaries reunite to form arteriorle leaving the glomerulus

Question 8

What is a podocyte?

Answer 8

Cells in the Bowman’s capsule in the kidneys that wrap around the capillaries of the glomerulus. Blood is filtered between their ‘foot’ projections

Question 9

What is reflux nephropathy?

Answer 9

Reflux nephropathy is a condition in which the kidneys are damaged by the backward flow of urine into the kidney.

Question 10

How does reflux nephropathy present?

Answer 10

child with
fever of unknown origin
fails to meet developmental milestones
bedwetting
family history

Question 11

What is blood in the urine called?

Answer 11

Haematuria

Question 12

What would you do for somebody under 45 presenting with haematuria?

Answer 12

refer to a Renal Physician

Question 13

What would you do for somebody over 45 presenting with haematuria?

Answer 13

refer to a urologist

Question 14

What is nephrotic syndrome?

Answer 14

Nephrotic syndrome is a condition where the ‘filters’ in the kidney become ‘leaky’ and large amounts of protein leak from your blood into your urine.