Urinary System Flashcards
Organs of the urinary system
Kidneys
Ureters
Urinary Bladder
Urethra
Kidneys are small, dark red organs with a kidney-bean shape lie against the dorsal body wall in a __________ position
retroperitoneal
The kidneys extend from the ____ to the ___ vertebra;thus they receive some protection from the lower part of the rib cage.
T12
L3
The kidneys extend from the ____ to the ___ vertebra;thus they receive some protection from the lower part of the rib cage.
T12
L3
Which kidney is slightly lower than the other and why is it so?
The right kidney is slightly lower than the left because it is crowded by the liver.
The kidney is convex laterally and has a medial indentation called
renal hilum
Several structures, including the ureters, the renal blood vessels, and nerves, enter or exit the kidney at the
hilum
Sitting atop each kidney is an____ , which is part of the endocrine system and is a separate organ.
adrenal gland
What are the three protective layers of the kidney
Fibrous capsule
Perirenal fat capsule
Renal fascia
A transparent _______ encloses each kidney and gives a glistening appearance
fibrous capsule
A fatty mass, the _______, surround each kidney and cushions it against blows
perirenal fat capsule
The most superficial layer made of dense fibrous connective tissue, anchors the kidney and adrenal gland to surrounding structures
renal fascia
If the amount of fatty tissue dwindles (as with rapid weight loss), the kidneys may drop to a lower position, a condition called
(renal) ptosis
When ptosis happens, urine that can no longer pass through the ureters backs up and exerts pressure on the kidney tissue; a condition called
hydronephrosis
The three regions of the kidney
Renal cortex
Renal medulla
Renal pelvis
The other region of the kidney that is light in color
Renal cortex
Deep to the renal cortex is darker reddish brown area called
Renal medulla
The renal medulla has triangular regions with a striped appearance called
Renal pyramids or medullary pyramids
The pyramids are separated by extensions of cortexlike tissue, called
renal columns
Lateral to the hilum is a flat, funnel-shaped tube, the ____ ; it is continuous with the ureter leaving the hilum
renal pelvis
Extensions of the pelvis, _______, form cup-shaped “drains” that enclose the tips of the pyramids
calyces
It collect urine, which continuously drains from the tips of the pyramids into the renal pelvis.
Calyces
Approximately_____ of the total blood supply of the body passes through the kidneys each minute.
one-quarter
What artery is supplying the each kidney?
Renal artery