Urinary Flashcards
Which renal vein is longer? Why?
Left because it has to cross over the aorta
Why does the testicular vein drain into the renal vein on the left but not on the right?
The left renal vein is longer because it crosses over the aorta.
What spinal levels are the kidneys found at?
Left - T11/12
Right - T12/L2
Which kidney is usually lower? Why?
Right because it is pushed down by the liver
Which areas make up the parenchyma of the kidney?
The cortex and the medulla
Describe the flow of urine as it leaves the collecting ducts.
Minor calyx - major calyx - renal pelvis - ureter - bladder - urethra
How can you identify the ureters on an X-ray?
Follow the path of the transverse spinous processes
In which operations do the ureters frequently get damaged? Why?
Hysterectomy
Because the uterine artery (which has to be cut) travels over the ureter and it is pulsatile so looks slightly arterial
Water under the bridge
Where are the three most common sites for kidney stones?
Top - pelvoureteric junction
Middle - as ureter passes over the iliac crest
Bottom - vesicoureteric junction
Describe the type of pain caused by renal stones. Why does it feel like this?
Loin to groin in the T11-L2 dermatomes
Colicky because ureter is a pulsatile tube, pushing intermittently against the stone
Where is the perinephric fat?
Around the hilum of the kidney. (Where everything else enters)
What is the kidney capsule?
Dense fibrous covering which surrounds each kidney.
What is the structure in the kidney that allows filtration to occur?
Glomerulus
Glomerular tuft of arterioles inside the Bowman’s capsule
Give three important locations of terminal arteries.
Brain, kidney, retina
Which embryological tissue does the urinary system derive from?
Intermediate mesoderm
Name the 3 embryological stages of urinary development.
Pro nephros
Meso nephros
Meta nephros
What are the two components of the mesonephros and what are their derivatives?
Ureteric bud - turns into collecting system and drives metanephros
Mesonephric duct - vas deferens
How does the metanephros develop?
Ureteric bud drives development de novo from intermediate mesoderm
What is the cloaca and how is it divided?
Where the GI tract and urogenital sinus merge.
It is divided by the growth of the urorectal sinus.
What is the urachus? What is its adult derivative? What happens if it remains patent?
Duct that joins urogenital sinus (future bladder) to the umbilicus
Turns into umbilical ligament
If it remains patent, urine leaks from umbilicus
Describe the ascent of the metanephros.
Begins in the hindgut and the trunk grows around it, so that it appears to ascend to the level of t11. Renal arteries develop along the ascent.
Why are there often supernumerary renal arteries?
Form and reform during the ascent of the kidney.
What causes a horseshoe kidney?
Kidneys rotate and fuse during their ascent. The isthmus (fused part) stops it travelling higher than the inferior mesenteric artery.
What causes an ectopic ureter? What complication can be associated with it?
2 ureteric buds form - either de novo or by one splitting.
If the ectopic ureter opens inferior to the bladder it can lead to incontinence.
What causes a urorectal fistula? What are the symptoms?
Failure of the urorectal sinus to fuse with the perineum.
Faecal contents leak out of urethra and high risk of UTI.
Which type of epithelia are found in the proximal convoluted tubule? State two specialisations.
Simple cuboidal
- Lots of microvilli to increase surface area for mass reabsorption
- Lots of mitochondria to supply the Na/k atpase which sets up the sodium gradient for passive reabsorption
Which type of epithelia are found in the loop of Henle?
Simple squamous
Which type of epithelia are found in the distal convoluted tubule?
Simple cuboidal.
Few microvilli and few mitochondria
Where are transitional epithelia found?
Minor calyx down to the superior urethra.
What are the four parts of the urethra and the type of epithelia found there?
Pre prostatic - transitional
Prostatic - transitional
Membranous - Pseudostratified columnar
Spongy - stratified squamous
What two factors influence whether a particle is filtered at the glomerulus?
Size - only small get through the endothelial wall and the filtration slits in the podocytes
Charge - negative are repelled by glycoprotein basement membrane so positive get through more easily
What are the three layers a that separate the blood from the ultra filtrate at the Bowman’s capsule?
Fenestrated endothelial
Glycoprotein basement membrane
Podocytes with filtration slits
In the glomerulus, is the afferent or efferent arteriole wider? Why?
Afferent to produce a hydrostatic pressure that forces some of the blood to be filtered.
What are the three pressures acting on the blood at the glomerulus?
Hydrostatic into the filtrate - from the different diameters of the afferent and efferent arterioles
Hydrostatic back pressure of the filtrate
Oncotic draw of the concentrated proteins in the plasma.
By which two mechanisms does the glomerulus auto regulate the filtration rate?
Myogenic regulation
Tubuloglomerular feedback
If the pressure in the afferent arteriole to the glomerulus increases, how will the myogenic auto regulation respond?
Increase in pressure risks an increase in GFR.
Smooth muscle senses the stretch and contracts to prevent extra blood reaching the glomerulus.
If the pressure in the afferent arteriole to the glomerulus decreases, how will the myogenic auto regulation respond?
Decrease in pressure risks an decrease in GFR.
Smooth muscle senses the relaxation and dilates to allow extra blood to reach the glomerulus.
If the pressure in the afferent arteriole to the glomerulus increases, how will the tubular glomerular auto regulation respond?
There is a brief increase in GFR. More NaCl reaches the distal tubule.
This is sensed by the macula dense cells and the juxtamedullary apparatus releases adenosine to vasoconstrict the afferent arteriole and stop the increase in GFR.
If the pressure in the afferent arteriole to the glomerulus decreases, how will the tubuloglomerular auto regulation respond?
There is a brief decrease in GFR. Less NaCl reaches the distal tubule. This is sensed by the macula densa cells and the juxtamedullary apparatus release prostaglandins to vasodilate the afferent arteriole and increase the GFR back to normal.
Why does the distal tubule travel up to the glomerulus and nestle between the afferent and efferent arterioles?
So that it can communicate with the juxtamedullary apparatus and regulate the filtration rate based on how much NaCl it senses.
What is glomerular filtration rate? What is a normal rate?
Rate of kidney function
Should be over 90 ml/min
How do we calculate GFR? Why is it a slight overestimate?
Clearance of creatinine.
Creatinine is slightly secreted into the tubule so it appears that clearance is greater than it is.
What are the ideal characteristics of a substance we could use to calculate GFR?
- Freely filtered
- Not re absorbed
- Not secreted
What is creatinine? What type of person would have higher natural levels?
Product of muscle breakdown
Muscular, young, male
By what process does the kidney control blood volume?
Reabsorption of Na
Where does bulk Na reabsorption occur? How much of the total is reabsorbed?
Proximal convoluted tubule
67%
Which Na transporters are present in the PCT?
Early - Na glucose
Later - Na H
Which Na transporters are present in the Descending limb of the loop of Henle?
None. Just loose junctions and aquaporins for water to set up gradient for the ascending limb.
Which Na transporters are present in the thin ascending limb of the loop of Henle?
Just the Na k atpase.
Na moves passively out here due to the gradient set up in the descending limb.
Which Na transporters are present in the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle?
Nak2cl
And ROMk to leak k and keep the Nak2cl functioning.
Which Na transporters are present in the DCT and collecting duct?
ENaC and associated k channel
Which part of the nephron is most sensitive to hypoxia?
Thick ascending limb because the nak2cl uses most atp.
Why is 67% of the Na always absorbed at the pct and not a fixed amount? What is this mechanism called?
Keeps the Na that travels through the rest of the nephron more constant than if a fixed amount was absorbed.
Glomerulotubular balance.
How is osmolarity and electro neutrality maintained through the pct?
As Na is removed, opposing ions eg cl and urea are left behind and make up a greater proportion of the filtrate. So elctroneutrality of ions is maintained. These also attract a similar level of water as the Na.
What 3 factors can increase renin release?
- Decreased NaCl in distal tubule detected by macula densa cells
- Decreased perfusion in afferent arteriole
- Increased sympathetic stimulation
Where is renin released?
Granular cells in Juxtaglomerular apparatus
What is the action of renin?
Angiotensinogen - angiotensin 2
What is the action of angiotensin converting enzyme? (ACE)
Angiotensin 1 - 2
Give 4 actions of angiotensin 2.
Increased sympathetic stimulation
Vasoconstrict
Increased Na/H action in the pct (increased Na absorption)
Aldosterone release from adrenal cortex
What is the main action of aldosterone?
Increase ENaC action and associated k channel in the DCT. Increased reabsorption of Na.
What are 3 actions of anti diuretic hormone?
Increased action of nak2cl channel in thick ascending limb of loop of Henle. Therefore increased reabsorption of Na.
Up regulation of aquaporin 2 channels
Increase urea reabsorption
What stimulates thirst and release of adh?
Osmoreceptors sense low osmolarity in hypothalamus - posterior pituitary
How do beta blockers inhibit raas?
Decreased sympathetic stimulation.
Give 3 substances which decrease blood volume via the kidney?
Natriuretic peptides
Prostaglandins
Dopamine
Why are NSAIDs not given in renal failure?
Renal failure - decreased GFR so filtrate sits in the kidney for longer.
Prostaglandins normally help to decrease Na reabsorption and vasodilate so would act as a buffer for a while.
But NSAIDs block prostaglandin formation so would lead to too much vasoconstriction and too much Na reabsorption and further decrease GFR.
Give 3 causes of secondary hypertension which act by increasing renin production.
- Increased sympathetic drive - Horner’s, phaechromocytoma
- Decreased perfusion to nephron - renal artery occlusion
- Decreased NaCl in DCT - renal failure (low GFR)
Give 2 causes of secondary hypertension which act by increasing influence of aldosterone.
- Conn’s disease - Aldosterone secreting tumour
2. Cushing’s - corticosteroids at high levels act on mineralocorticoid receptors (aldosterone is a mineralocorticoid)
What determines plasma osmolarity?
Relative Na and h20 which is modulated by the movement of water
Is a solution with high osmolarity salty or watery?
Salty
Is a solution with low osmolarity salty or watery?
Watery
How does is plasma osmolarity detected? What is the response if it gets too high?
Osmoreceptors in the ovlt of the hypothalamus
If it gets too high (salty)
Increase ADH
Increase thirst sensation and desire for salty food.
How does adh upregulate the aquaporin 2 channels? How does it affect the aquaporin 3 and 4 channels?
Gs receptor - cAMP - insert aquaporin 2 on the apical membrane
Aquaporin 3 and 4 are always present on the baseplate real membrane so no effect by adh .
If osmolarity is normal but volume falls, what happens to ADH?
Volume trumps osmolarity eg in shock because good tissue effusion is the most important thing.
So even if osmolarity is normal, when volume falls dramatically, adh is released more readily.
What is the pathophysiology of diabetes insipidus?
Decreased effect of ADH.
Either decreased production from p pituitary or insensitivity.
Leads to polyuria and polydipsia.
Long term risk of Hypokalaemia
What is the pathophysiology of SIADH?
Excessive adh production from the p pituitary or from an adh secreting tumour.
Leads to retention of water and dilutional hyponatraemia
Why is the corticopapillary osmotic gradient necessary?
Inserting aquaporin channels is not enough to make water be reabsorbed. Needs an osmotic gradient to move along.
What process generates the corticopapillary osmotic gradient?
Counter current multiplication -
Ascending limb loh is impermeable to water
1. Nak2cl - pumps out salt - salty interstitial and dilute urine
2. ADH causes urea to move into interstitium but it is salty so it moves into loh. Water can’t follow.
3. Loh full of urea - salty. But most salty bit is before nak2cl. =gradient
So the deep area becomes full of urea and top bit is dilute.
This repeats and the effect is multiplied.
What process maintains the corticopapillary osmotic gradient?
Counter current exchange
Vasa recta flows opposite to filtrate
So it enters at the least concentrated section. It takes up salts following the gradient so that by the time it gets deep into the cortex it is isoosmotic with the filtrate and doesn’t wash away the gradient.
How does the lung compensate for metabolic acidosis/alkalosis?
Detects pH at the peripheral receptors.
Acidosis - increases ventilation to blow off O2
Alkalosis - decreases ventilation (to a point until O2 drops)
How does the kidney compensate for respiratory alkalosis?
PH in tubular cells tips kidney towards less recovery of HCO3.
By decreasing action of Na/H anti porter and therefore hco3/Na symporter.
How does the kidney compensate for respiratory acidosis? 3 ways)
Increased recovery and production of hco3
Recovery - increases Na/h and therefore hco3/Na
Production - 1. increases ammonium production 2. Increases action of h atpase to excrete more h and to shift the carbonic anhydrase reaction towards hco3 production.
What is the anion gap?
Normally we only measure k, Na, cl and hco3. There is usually 5-10mmol difference between the cations and the anions. But if the anions are even less there is an anion gap. This indicates that there is an alternative production of anions from acids other than co2. For example lactate or ketones. Strong indication of metabolic acidosis.
What is the relationship between metabolic ph and potassium levels?
Metabolic Acidosis - Hyperkalaemia
(And Hyperkalaemia - metabolic acidosis)
Metabolic alkalosis - Hypokalaemia
(And Hypokalaemia - metabolic alkalosis)
Via k/h pump in the intercalated cells of the DCT.
How does the lung compensate for metabolic acidosis/alkalosis?
Detects pH at the peripheral receptors.
Acidosis - increases ventilation to blow off O2
Alkalosis - decreases ventilation (to a point until O2 drops)
How does the kidney compensate for respiratory alkalosis?
PH in tubular cells tips kidney towards less recovery of HCO3.
By decreasing action of Na/H anti porter and therefore hco3/Na symporter.
How does the kidney compensate for respiratory alkalosis? (3 ways)
Increased recovery and production of hco3
Recovery - increases Na/h and therefore hco3/Na
Production - 1. increases ammonium production 2. Increases action of h atpase to excrete more h and to shift the carbonic anhydrase reaction towards hco3 production.
What is the anion gap?
Normally we only measure k, Na, cl and hco3. There is usually 5-10mmol difference between the cations and the anions. But if the anions are even less there is an anion gap. This indicates that there is an alternative production of anions from acids other than co2. For example lactate or ketones. Strong indication of metabolic acidosis.
What is the relationship between metabolic ph and potassium levels?
Metabolic Acidosis - Hyperkalaemia
(And Hyperkalaemia - metabolic acidosis)
Metabolic alkalosis - Hypokalaemia
(And Hypokalaemia - metabolic alkalosis)
Via k/h pump in the intercalated cells of the DCT.
Give five host factors that raise the risk of UTI.
Female Pregnant Enlarged prostate Ureteric reflux - children Renal calculi
Give 3 bacterial factors that make them good at infecting the urinary tract.
Fimbriae
Haemolysins - break down blood cells
Urease - break down urea to make it more alkali
Which are the two most common bacteria causing UTI? Why?
E. coli
Enterococcus faecalis
Proximity of gut outflow to urinary tract
What is the classic presentation of a UTI?
Polyuria with urgency
Dysuria
Suprapubic pain
Which two symptoms might make you consider a UTI is pyelonephritis?
Fever
Loin pain
Which patients are more likely to have an asymptomatic UTI? Why is this significant?
Pregnant
Foetus at risk of premature delivery and stunted growth
What characteristics make a UTI complicated?
Pregnant Male Paediatric Treatment failure Suspected pyelonephritis
What test would you carry out in a suspected UTI? What result would indicate a positive result?
Midstream dipstick
Presence of leukocyte esterase and nitrite
Alkali
Visual turbidity (opaque)
How would you treat an uncomplicated UTI?
Trimethoprim 3 days
Or nitrofurantoin 3 days
What is the neural control of bladder filling?
Sympathetic (hypo gastric nerve) t10-l2
Inhibits detrusor via b3 receptors to relax smooth muscle
Excites internal urethral sphincter via alpha 1 receptors to prevent leak
What is the autonomic control of micturition?
Parasympathetic (pelvic nerve) s2-4
Excites detrusor via m3 receptors to squeeze
Inhibits internal urethral sphincter to relax and release
What is the somatic control of micturition?
Pudendal nerve (s2-4) excites external urethral sphincter at rest Inhibits during voiding
What are the key differences between the internal and external urethral sphincters?
Internal -
- physiological sphincter of smooth muscle
- Autonomic control
External -
- Anatomical sphincter of skeletal muscle
- Somatic control
Describe the histological structure of the detrusor muscle. Why is this significant?
Smooth muscle in many directions. Confers strength when stretching in any direction.
What is stress incontinence? Give a common cause?
Incontinent when coughing or sneezing
Pelvic floor weakness
What is urge incontinence? What are some common causes?
High intraabdominal pressure - ovarian cyst, pregnant, prolapse
Upper motor neuron lesion - increased detrusor tone and detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia
What is overflow incontinence? What is a common cause?
Constant leak, often worse at night.
Lower motor neuron lesion - decreased tone of detrusor leading to overfilling.
What is acute injury? What are the main diagnostic criteria?
An actual (not the value on the blood test) decrease in GFR. Measured by raised creatinine and decreased urine output. (Also some decrease in GFR)
What causes pre renal AKI? Give 5 pre renal causes of AKI.
Decreased perfusion of the kidney
- Hypovolaemia
- Sepsis
- Heart failure
- Cirrhosis
- Drugs - NSAIDs (lack of prostaglandin relaxing afferent) and ACE (lack of angiotensin constricting efferent)
How does the kidney compensate for pre renal AKI? At what point does this become overwhelmed?
Tries to increase prostaglandins - increases relaxation of afferent
Tries to increase angiotensin via tubuloglomerular feedback - increases constriction of efferent
Compensation is overwhelmed when mean arterial pressure goes below 80mmHg
Which type of AKI responds well to fluid?
Pre renal (before it descends into acute tubular necrosis)
What are 3 main causes of acute tubular necrosis?
- Pre renal AKI that is not treated with fluid
- Ischaemia (renal artery stenosis)
- Nephrotoxins
Which area of the tubule is mostly affected by acute tubular necrosis?
Proximal convoluted tubule
Because it has a high demand for O2
What would you find in a urine dipstick in a case of acute tubular necrosis?
High specific gravity (lots dissolved in it)
Low osmolarity
High Na (PCT heavily affected)
What would you find in a urine dipstick in a case of glomerulonephritis?
Blood and protein - damage is close to artery.
What would you find in a urine dipstick in a case of acute pyelonephritis?
Can be normal because the damage is interstitial
Some inflammatory cells and nitrites indicate infection.
What would you find in a urine dipstick in a case of pre renal AKI?
Difficulty passing any urine
Slight increase in specific gravity and decrease in osmolarity. Some increase in sodium.
Anything drastic could indicate that it has deteriorated into acute tubular necrosis.
What would you find in a urine dipstick in a case of post renal AKI?
Anuria
Give 3 endogenous Nephrotoxins?
Myoglobin (eg rhabdomyelysis)
Bilirubin (eg in cirrhosis)
Urate (eg gout)
Give 3 nephrotoxic drugs.
Ace inhibitors
NSAIDs
Gentamicin
Give a nephrotoxic substance present in sepsis.
Endotoxins eg E Coli.
What is the main cause of post renal AKI? Can you give some specific examples?
Obstruction- renal stones (must block both kidneys), post TB strictures, prostate enlargement, tumour, blocked catheter
What is the most important life threatening symptom of AKI? How should it be treated?
Hyperkalaemia leading to a sine wave ecg.
Give ca gluconate to prevent sudden cardiac arrest.
What are the indications for dialysis?
- Intractable Hyperkalaemia
- Intractable fluid overload
- Metabolic acidosis
- Dialysable Nephrotoxins eg aspirin OD
- eGFR of 8-10
- Uraemic symptoms
What is a normal GFR?
About 100 (90-120)
At what GFR does mortality start to increase in ckd?
75
What are uraemic symptoms? What do they indicate?
Nausea and vomiting
Weight loss
Pruritis (itching)
In someone with ckd it is an indication to start dialysis.
Give some risk factors for ckd.
Advancing age South Asian ethnicity Diabetes Hypertension Is harming heart disease
What are the 3 most common causes of ckd?
- Hypertension and vascular damage
- Diabetes
- Ischaemic heart disease
(Idiopathic is most common)
Give some paediatric causes of ckd.
IgA nephropathy
Polycystic kidney disease
Give some complications of ckd.
Ischaemic heart disease
Renal anaemia
Metabolic bone disease
Metabolic acidosis
Why does Ischaemic heart disease arise from ckd? How would you prevent it?
Vascular damage
Statin for lipid levels
ACE for blood pressure
Why does renal anaemia arise from ckd? How would you treat it?
Decreased production of erythropoietin
IV erythropoietin
How does metabolic acidosis arise from ckd? How would you prevent it?
Kidney can’t reabsorb as much hco3 as it should
Oral NaHCO3
How does metabolic bone disease arise from ckd? How would you treat it?
Decrease in active vitamin d decreases ca
Kidney can’t excrete phosphate so it binds to ca and leaves less free ca
Low ca
High PTH
Osteoporosis etc
Treat with active vitamin d
In kidney disease, when should ACE be used?
Angiotensin constricts efferent arteriole. Ace dilates efferent arteriole
AKI - ace is toxic because it further lowers GFR
CKD - ace is protective, especially in proteinuria because less starling forces less protein out. Also rests the kidney.
In kidney disease when should NSAIDs be used?
Prostaglandins relax afferent arteriole. NSAIDs constrict afferent arteriole.
Further decrease GFR in both AKI and CKD.
Toxic!!
Where would a transplanted kidney be plumbed in?
Iliac artery
Why do people on dialysis still accumulate morbidity?
Because it can only improve GFR slightly to about 15.
What are the two types of dialysis?
Haemolytic
Peritoneal
Give 2 advantages and 5 disadvantages of haemolytic dialysis.
- Less responsibility
- Days off
- Travel time and lack of flexibility
- Severe fatigue
- Risk of loss of consciousness or exsanguination
- Food and fluid restriction
- AV fistula required
Give 3 advantages and 5 disadvantages of peritoneal dialysis.
- Independence
- Flexibility
- Less food and fluid restrictions
- Frequent peritonitis
- Leaks
- Hernia
- Need to be capable and dexterous
- Frequent bag changes.
Give four key symptoms of nephrotic syndromes.
- Proteinuria (O)
- Hypoalbumenaemia (loss through podocytes damage)
- Oedema (decrease oncotic draw)
- Hyperlipidaemia (liver up regulation to produce more albumen)
Give 3 key symptoms of nephritic syndromes.
- Haematuria with red cell casts
- Hypertension
- Low urine output
What is the likely site of damage in nephrotic syndrome?
Podocytes leading to leaking of protein…
What is the likely site of damage in nephritic syndrome?
Endothelium leading to blood loss, clotting, low perfusion and AKI
Give 3 causes of nephrotic syndrome
- Minimal change glomerulonephritis/focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (kids/adults)
- Membranous glomerulonephritis (common)
- Diabetes
How does diabetes cause nephrotic syndrome
Microvascular damage leading to mesangial sclerosis (inflammatory thickening of bm and damage to podocytes)
Give 3 causes of nephritic syndrome.
IgA nephropathy
Good pastures
Wegeners granulomatosis
What is a normal urine output and what would be considered to be Anuria?
500ml to 3 L
Anuria is less than 50ml
What is a normal range for serum HCO3?
22-29
What is a normal range for serum Na?
133-146
What is a normal range for serum K?
3.5-5.3
What is a normal range for serum creatinine?
60-120
What is the difference between ionised Ca and total serum Ca? Give their normal ranges.
Ionised is free ca, total includes albumen bound.
Need to look at ionised only or adjusted total because otherwise it might be confounded by a low albumen.
Ionised - 1.1-1.4
Total - 2.2-2.6
What type of vitamin d is reported in a lab result?
Calcidiol
This is the type that has been conjugated by the liver but has not been activated by the kidney.
It is the type that is usually given as a supplement
Which type of vitamin D is usually given as a supplement? Why? When would this be inappropriate?
Calcidiol. Yet to be activated by kidney.
Inappropriate in CKD so give calcitriol (activated). But this is powerful so minimise use.
What is a normal range for serum pH?
7.35-7.45
What is a normal range for serum glucose?
3.3-6
But under 11 is acceptable for a random non fasting.
What is the ideal hba1c to aim for?
Less than 6.5%