Retroperitoneum Flashcards
1
Q
Why do you want something to be retroperitoneum?
A
- want organs to be kept in place such as liver and kidney due to veins/arteries running through and want them to remain vertical
2
Q
Where is the retroperitoneum located?
A
- sub-region of abdomen that lies posterior to peritoneal cavity
3
Q
What is the contents of the retroperitoneum?
A
- retroperitoneal structures
- extraperitoneal fat
4
Q
What are the retroperitoneal structures?
A
- duodenum
- pancreas
- ascending colon
- descending colon
- kidneys and ureters
- suprarenal glands
- fat, fascia and fascial space
- aorta and IVC
- nervous tissue and structures
- lymphatics
5
Q
What is the vertebral level of the left kidney?
A
- T12 to L2
6
Q
What is the vertebral level of the right kidney?
A
- L1 to L3
7
Q
Where do the kidneys lie?
A
- in paravertebral gutters
8
Q
What sits between the kidneys and the paravertebral gutters?
A
- perirenal fat
9
Q
Where does the superior pole of the kidney sit in relation to the inferior pole?
A
- the superior is pole is more medial
10
Q
What is the advantage of the inferior pole of the kidney sitting more lateral?
A
- it allows for the ureters to come straight out of the kidney and follow the psoas major
11
Q
What are the internal structures of the kidneys?
A
- renal hilum
- renal sinus
- renal pelvis
- major calyces
- minor calyces
12
Q
What is the renal pedicle?
A
- all the structures that pass through the hilum
13
Q
What is the contents of the renal pedicle?
A
- ureter
- renal artery
- renal vein
- nerves
- lymphatics
14
Q
What are the posterior relations of the kidneys?
A
- thoracic diaphragm
- transversus abdominis
- quadratus lumborum
- psoas major
15
Q
What is the diameter of abdominal ureter?
A
3-5 mm
