The Kidneys

Question 1

is this a male or female urinary system?

Answer 1

female > shorter urethra

Question 2

is this a male or female urinary system?

Answer 2

male > longer urethra

Question 3

name the components of the urinary system and the function of each part

Answer 3

1. kidneys - maintains homeostasis by blood filtration
2. ureter - transports urine from the kindeys to the bladder
3. bladder - temporarily stores urine and assists in its expulsion
4. urethra - vessel responsible for transporting urine from the bladder to an external opening in the perineum

Question 4

the two bean-shaped kidneys lie in the paravertebral gutters on the posterior abdominal wall on either side of the vertebral column between vertebrae…

Answer 4

T12-L3

Question 5

the hilus of the kidney lies at the level of which plane?

Answer 5

transpyloric plane L1

Question 6

name some structures that lie on the transpyloric plane

Answer 6

• pylorus
• kidney hila
• gallbladder
• neck of pancreas
• L1 vertebra
• transverse colon

Question 7

each kidney is enclosed by which 4 layers?

Answer 7

1. fibrous renal capsule
2. fatty renal capsule
3. renal fascia - fibro-fatty tissue
4. pararenal fatty tissue - mainly on the posterior aspects of the kidney

Question 8

what is the significance of having fatty tissue around the kidneys?

Answer 8

protection and support

Question 9

label the fascial and fat coverings of the kidney

Answer 9

Question 10

on the diagram, identify and label the muscles related posteriorly to the kidney

Answer 10

Question 11

what is the nerve supply to the kidneys?

Answer 11

• sympathetic nerves originate in the T12 and L1 spinal segments, pass through the coeliac ganglia and along the renal artery to the organ.
• parasympathetic nerves are derived from the vagus nerves.

Question 12

what is the lympathic drainage of the kidneys?

Answer 12

lymph from the kidneys drain to the para-aortic lymph nodes around the origin of the renal arteries (L1)

Question 13

from which embryological structure does the definitive kidney develop?

Answer 13

metanephric mesoderm, part of the intermediate plate mesoderm

Question 14

what does the ureter develop from?

Answer 14

ureteric bud

Question 15

what congenital abnormality has occured here?

Answer 15

isolated renal agenesis

Question 16

what congenital abnormality has occurred here?

Answer 16

duplicated left ureter

Question 17

what congenital abnormality has occurred here?

Answer 17

horseshoe kidney

Question 18

label the cadaveric image

Answer 18