SDL - Kidneys & Suprarenal Glands Flashcards
What are the kidneys largely under the cover of?
Costal margin
Which kidney sits at a higher level?
Left
What is the perinephric fat?
A layer of fat that surrounds kidney
What is the paranephric fat?
A layer of fat that sits lateral to perinephric fat but separated by perinephric fascia
On what ribs do the left and right kidneys lie?
11 and 12
Which organs lie in contact with the anterior surface of the right kidney?
Liver, hepatic flexure duodenum
Which organs lie in contact with the anterior surface of the left kidney?
Spleen, splenic flexure, stomach
What are the important posterior relations of each kidney?
Quadratus lumborum muscles, ribs
What is a renal corpuscle?
The blood-filtering component of the nephron. It consists of a glomerulus - a tuft of capillaries composed of endothelial cells, and a glomerular capsule known as Bowman’s capsule.
Where are the renal corpuscles found?
Renal cortex
What structures unite to form the ureteric pelvis?
Major calices
What is the relation of structures to each other in the hilum?
Renal vein most anteriorly
Renal artery middle
Ureter most posteriorly
What is the renal sinus?
Space which allows for structures to pass into and away from the kidney. It is filled fat.
What are accessory renal arteries?
Most commonly accessory renal arteries arise from the abdominal aorta and supply the inferior pole of the kidney.
Kidneys develop in pelvis and then ascend so foetal blood supply may persist
Which arteries supply the suprarenal glands?
3: superior, middle, inferior suprarenal arteries
Where do the superior suprarenal arteries arise from?
Branch of inferior phrenic artery (usually 6-8)
Where do inferior phrenic arteries arise from?
Usually separately from abdominal aorta (can arise as common stalk from aa or coeliac trunk)
Where do the middle suprarenal arteries arise from?
The middle suprarenal arteries are two small vessels which arise, one from either side of the abdominal aorta (between inferior phrenic and renal artery)
Where do the inferior suprarenal arteries arise from?
Directly from aorta or from renal artery
Why do the suprarenal glands have such a rich blood supply?
Very important gland; enabling rapid movement of hormones in to the circulatory system
Which veins drain into the left renal vein?
Left gonadal vein, suprarenal vein
Describe the course of the ureter
The ureter runs down onto the psoas muscle. It leaves psoas at the bifurcation of the common iliac artery, which lies over the sacro-iliac joint, and passes into the pelvis where it turns anteriorly and medially to enter the bladder.
Along their course from kidney to bladder, the ureters cross a number of bony landmarks. What are these?
Transverse processes of lumbar vertebra
Sacroiliac joint
Pelvic brim
Ischial spine
What structures cross the ureter in males and females?
Females - uterine artery
Male - vas deferens
What is the blood supply to the ureters?
Abdominal ureter: Branches from renal and gonadal artery, abdominal aorta, and common iliac arteries
Pelvic ureter: Branches from uterine and vesical arteries
How can ureters be identified during an operation?
A small tap will send a wave of peristalsis both towards and away from the kidney
Where are the three narrowest points of the ureter? What is the clinical significance of these narrowings?
- Leaving kidney (renal pelvis)
- Crossing pelvic brim: when the ureters pass the brim of the pelvic inlet at the bifurcation of the common iliac artery
- Entering bladder
Between which vertebral levels does the abdominal aorta extend?
T12 - L4
