Urinary system

Question 1

The pelvic region is divided into greater and lesser pelvis. Which region is known as the pelvic cavity ?

Answer 1

Lesser pelvis

Question 2

What is the perineum?

Answer 2

A structure below the pelvic floor. Some structures of the genitourinary system sit in this region, and external genitalia extend from the perineum.

Question 3

Where do the organs of reproduction sit in females and males?

Answer 3

1. Females - lesser pelvis
2. Males - lesser pelvis, apart from testes that sit outside the body in the scrotum.

Question 4

What is the path of draining from the pyramids in the cortex to the bladder?

Answer 4

The pyramids in the cortex drain into minor calyces. Around 2-3 minor calyces drain into each 2-3 major calyces. The major calyces drain to the renal pelvis, which empties through uretas to bladder.

Question 5

What is the point where structures enter and leave the kidney called?

Answer 5

Hilum

Question 6

What structures enter and leave the kidney through the hilum?

Answer 6

• Renal artery
• Renal Vein
• Ureter
• Lymphatics and sympathetics

Question 7

What does antidiuretic hormone do and where is it released from?

Answer 7

ADH make the collecting duct more permeable to water, allowing reabsorption of water. ADH is released from posterior pituitary.

Question 8

Which vertebral level do the renal arteries arise ( this will therefore be where the hilum is) ?

Answer 8

Just below L1.

Question 9

Which ribs are the kidneys partially protected by?

Answer 9

Ribs 11-12

Question 9

What vertebral level do the kidneys lie?

Answer 9

T12 to L3

Question 10

Where are the adrenal glands (also called suprarenal glands) located ?

Answer 10

Superior aspect of each kidney

Question 11

Adrenal glands have cortex and medulla. Different hormones are secretes from cortex and medulla. Which are these hormones?

Answer 11

1. Cortex : cortisol, aldosterone and sex hormones
2. Medulla : adrenaline and noradrenaline

Question 12

What is the medical name for kidney stones?

Answer 12

Renal Calculi

Question 13

What are kidney stones?

Answer 13

Crystal aggregations that form in the collecting ducts of the kidneys and may be deposited anywhere from the kidney to urethras.

Question 14

How many layers and what type of muscle is in the ureter?

Answer 14

3 layers of smooth muscle that aid peristaltic contractions that force urine into the bladder.

Question 15

What are the 3 regions in the ureters where they narrow?

Answer 15

• junction between ureters and renal pelvis
• where ureters cross brim of pelvic bone
• entrance of the ureters into the bladder

Question 16

The bladder always contains some urine. What is the minimal amount of urine always in the bladder?

Answer 16

50ml

Question 17

What is the muscle called in the bladder, what type of muscle is it and how many layers? (hint: its the same type and same layers as in ureters)

Answer 17

Detrusor muscle

3 layers of smooth muscle.

Question 18

there are 3 layers of smooth muscle in the bladder. How do the fibres orientation differ between the layers?

Answer 18

Internal and external layers = longitudinal fibres

Middle layer= roughly circular direction

Question 19

What type of epithelium lines the urinary system from the renal pelvis to the urethra?

Answer 19

specialised epithelium/transitional epithelium/urothelium

Question 20

What is the epithelium in a non-distended urothelium?

Answer 20

• Base layer- cuboidal cells
• Middle layer - polygonal cells
• Surface layer- tall columnar cells

Question 21

In adults, where does the bladder sit when empty and full?

Answer 21

• Empty - bladder sits anteriorly to lesser pelvis and inferior to peritoneum
• Full - bladder extends superiorly into the extraperitoneal fat of the anterior body wall

Question 22

Where does the bladder sit in children under 6 years?

Answer 22

Always in the abdomen, whether empty or full

Question 23

What is the trigone and rugae in the bladder?

Answer 23

Trigone is a smooth triangular area on the posterior wall of the bladder between the ureteric orifices

Rugae are ridges that line the majority of the empty bladder, that flatten out as the bladder fills.

Question 24

What is the internal urethral sphincter?

Answer 24

smooth muscle at the junction between the bladder and urethra. It is controlled by autonomic innervation and is only found in males to prevent semen going into bladder.

Question 25

What is the external urethral sphincter and what type of muscle is it?

Answer 25

A skeletal muscle in the urethra which is under voluntary control.

Question 26

In females the urethra is short and straight. In males, the urethra is split into 4 sections. What are these 4 sections?

Answer 26

• pre prostatic (intramural)
• prostatic
• Membranous
• Penile (spongy)

Question 27

How many layers of cells are found in empty and distended bladder?

Answer 27

• Empty - 5-6 layers
• Distended - 2-3 layers

Question 28

What is the difference in causes of stones in kidneys or ureters ?

Answer 28

In kidneys, stones cause loin pain

In the ureters, stones cause renal colic