Session 1 - Structure And Anatomy Of The Urinary System

Question 1

Give the four main roles of the kidneys.

Answer 1

• Control blood and urine volume
• Control osmolarity
• Help control pH
• Excrete some waste products

Question 2

Give the order in which the filtrate would pass from minor calyces to urethra.

Answer 2

Minor Calyces -> Major Calyces -> Collecting Ducts -> Ureter -> Bladder -> Urethra

Question 3

What is a nephron?

Answer 3

It is the microscopic functional unit of the kidney

Question 4

What is the function of the Glomerulus?

Answer 4

It is a highly specialised filter in which substances from the blood are squeezed through and a filtrate passes though it containing water, electrolytes and some small molecules.

Question 5

What is the major function of the Proximal Convoluted Tube?

Answer 5

• Above around 60-70% of sodium and water
• Absorb 90% of bicarbonate
• Absorb almost all glucose and aa’s

Question 6

How does the PCT absorb sodium and glucose at a cellular level?

Answer 6

• Sodium/Potassium ATPase creates a gradient for sodium to enter cells from the tubule
• Sodium diffuses into the cells by a Sodium/Glucose co-transporter

Question 7

What is the major function of the Loop of Henle?

Answer 7

Create a gradient of increasing osmolarity in the medulla which allows the formation of concentrated urine if water has to be conserved

Question 8

What is the major function of the Distal Convoluted Tubule?

Answer 8

It is the major site of regulation for ion uptake. It alters much ions are reabsorbed depending on the needs of plasma volume.

Question 9

Give some differences between the male and female urinary tracts.

Answer 9

• Males is connected to the reproductive system
• Males also transports semen, females just urine
• Males urethra is much longer (10-15cm compared to 3-4cm)
• Females are much more likely to get UTI’s compared to males (due to shortness of urethra)

Question 10

Give the general anatomical location of the kidneys.

Answer 10

• Retroperitoneal organs that sit roughly at T12-L3
• Right one lies slightly lower due to weight of liver
• Protected by 11th and 12th ribs

Question 11

Describe the anatomical location of the bladder in adults and what happens when it fills?

Answer 11

Sit right behind pubic bone in an adult

It dis tends upwards when it fills

Question 12

Describe the anatomical location of the prostate

Answer 12

Sits directly below the bladder

Urethra passes through it and hence can be compressed if prostate undergoes Hypertrophy

Question 13

Describe the course of the ureter.

Answer 13

• Arises from renal pelvis on medial aspect of each kidney
• Descends inferiorly, anteriorly to psoas major
• Crosses pelvic brim anterior to bifurcation of iliac arteries
• Insert into the bladder obliquely on posterior wall

Question 14

Name the three locations in which kidney stones are most likely to lodge in the ureter.

Answer 14

• Uretopelvic junction
• Point at which ureters cross the brim of pelvis
• Ureto-vesicular junction

Question 15

Which arteries supply the kidneys?
Which artery do they branch from?
At what spinal level approximately?

Answer 15

Renal Arteries
Abdominal Arteries
L1/2

Question 16

Which renal artery is longer and why?

Answer 16

The right renal artery is longer because thee aorta sits closer to the left kidney and the right renal artery must travel over the IVC.