Urinary System Flashcards
What sits on top of each kidney?
- The adrenal (renal) gland
What does the kidney touch posteriorly?
- Diaphragm
- The Quadratus Lumborum
- The Psoas Major Muscles
What does the Kidney relate to Medially? (on each side)
Hilum which contains:
- Renal Artery (from the abdominal aorta)
- Renal Vein (draining into IVC)
- Renal Pelvis (beginning of the ureter, not the ureter itself)
What is different about the left and right kidney?
Left Kidney
- Touches stomach and spleen
Right Kidney
- Touches IVC and Liver
What are the 4 layers of connective tissue that surround the kidneys?
- Fibrous Capsule
- Peri-renal Fat
- Renal Fascia
- Para-renal Fat
Describe the Fibrous Capsule of the Kidney?
- Starts from the kidney
- Dense Irregular Fibrous CT called the renal capsule
Describe the structure of the Peri-renal Fat of the Kindey?
- Layer of fat outside of this capsule and cushions the kidney (absorbs trauma shock)
- Helps maintain the temperature
Describe the Renal Fascia (gerota’s fascia) of the kidney?
- Loose connective tissue
- keeps the kidney and adrenal glands in place in relation to surrounding organs
Describe the Structure of the Para-renal fat of the kidney?
- The fat layer outside of renal fascia (up to 3” thick)
What are the External Features of the Kidney?
- Two Bean-Shaped: 1296cm
- Retroperitoneal structures resting on the posterior abdominal wall
- right kidney is situated slightly lower (rib 12) than the left (rib 11 and 12) (because of the liver)
- Hilum
What are the Internal Structures of the Kidney?
- Renal Cortex
- Renal Medulla
- Renal Columns
- Renal Lobe
- Renal Papilla
- Renal Sinus
- Renal Hilum
Where is the Renal Cortex and what does it consist of?
Location
- Right Underneath the Renal Capsule
Consists of
- Initial portion of nearly 1 million tube-like structures called nephrons
Where is the Renal Medulla located? what does it consist of?
Location
- Deep to the cortex
Consists
- 8 - 18 pyramidal structures
What does the Renal Lobe Consist of?
- Pyramids and half the adjacent column
- Roughly 8-18 in each kidney
Where is the Renal Papilla located? What does it consist of?
Location
- Pointy tip of the pyramid that points to the hilum
Consists
- Thousands of collecting ducts that empty urine to the minor calyx
- The major Calyx
- The renal Pelvis
What joins together to form the major calyx?
- The neighboring minor calyces
Where is the Renal Sinus located?
- In the space containing all the calyces and renal pelvis
What is the structure of the Renal Hilum?
Contains
- Renal Pelvis
- Renal Artery
- Renal Vein
What is the Structure and Function of the Ureter?
Structure
- A muscular tube (smooth muscle): 25cm long
- Start from the renal pelvis until the urinary bladder
- The outside diameter is about 5-6mm, and the inside is about 1mm in the normal state. It can stretch and pass kidney stones as big as 6mm.
Function
- Passes and pushes urine produced in the kidney towards the bladder mainly by peristalsis
What are the 3 critical narrow points on the course of the ureter?
- Uretero-pelvic junction (at L1 level)
- When passing over the pelvic rim or the common iliac artery (at sacroiliac joint level)
- When entering the bladder (at S2 level)
Is the Urinary Bladder Retroperitoneal or Intraperitoneal organ? Where is it located?
- Retroperitoneal
Located - On the true pelvis or lesser pelvis
How much fluid can the bladder hold? When do you get warnings to empty it?
Maximum - 700-800mL Warnings - First: 150mL - Second: 350mL - Final: 500mL
What is on the Superior Surface of the Bladder in Males?
- Covered by the peritoneum: separates the small intestinal loops from the bladder
What is on the Posterior Surface of the Bladder in Males?
- Close proximity to the seminal vesicles and vas deference, as well as rectum
- Called the Base of the Bladder
