Urinary System Flashcards
Which kidney sits lower than the other, and why?
Right kidney is slightly lower than the left to make room for the Liver on the right side.
All around the abdominal cavity is the _______ _______ (covers inside body wall of the abdominal cavity)
All around the abdominal cavity is the Parietal Peritoneum (covers inside body wall of the abdominal cavity)
What separates the abdominal cavity and the pelvic cavity?
The parietal peritoneum
The abdominal organs are covered by a serous membrane called the:
Visceral peritoneum
What is the space between the visceral and parietal peritoneum called?
The Peritoneal cavity
Where would you find the kidneys in terms of the peritoneal cavity?
Retroperitoneal = behind the peritoneum
ie developed and remain outside of the peritoneal cavity
Describe the location of the Right Kidney vs the Left Kidney:
- BOTH are Retroperitoneal
- At the L1-L3 vertebral level is the Right Kidney (lower)
- The Left kidney is located at the T12-L2 Level (higher)
The kidneys are surrounded by three layers of fat. What are these layers and what is their purpose?
- Cushion and protect the kidneys
- Pararenal (retroperitoneal) fat - BETWEEN renal fascia and posterior body wall
- Perirenal Fat - layer around the kidneys (within the renal fascial layers)
- Renal Fascia - anchors kidney in posterior abdominal wall
Which layer around the kidney anchors the kidney to the posterior abdominal wall?
Renal Fascia
Urine enters the ducts in the kidney ______ (apex of renal pyramids), which converge to form ______ and finally, urine goes into the ______
Urine enters the ducts in the kidney at the apex of the renal pyramids called the Minor Calyces, which then converge to form Major Calyces and finally, the urine goes into the Renal Pelvis
Label the:
- Minor calyces
- Major calyx
- Renal pelvis
- Hilum
- Ureter
What is the Hilum?
Similar to the Hilum of the lung, this is the common entry point: where vessels (renal artery and veins), nerves, and the ureter to pass
ie the point where everything passes
The kidneys are surrounded by a tough connective tissue called the: ________
A tough Fibrous capsule surrounds the kidneys.
What is the function of the fibrous capsule?
Maintains the shape of the kidney
Found mainly in the periphery of the kidney is the _______.
While the ______ is the innermost part of the kidney, closely associated with the Minor calyces
Found mainly in the periphery of the kidney is the Renal Cortex.
While the Renal Medulla is the innermost part of the kidney, closely associated with the Minor calyces
The renal medulla is split into cone-shaped tissues called:
Renal Pyramids
Specifically, what division of the renal medulla is associated with the minor calyces?
The renal pyramids
The Renal pyramid end in a ______ that empties into Minor calyces
The Renal pyramid end in a Renal Papilla that empties into Minor calyces
On either side of the renal pyramids are columns of renal cortex called:
Renal Columns
A lot of the ______ associated with the renal pyramids is found in the Renal columns
Vasculature
What is a Renal lobe?
Where does it empty?
One renal pyramid and a bit of the renal column on each side makes up a Renal Lobe.
One renal lobe empties into one minor calyx
In general, there are between ___ and _____ minor calyces in each kidney.
In general, there are between 8 and 15 minor calyces
Follow the path of blood into the kidney:
Renal artery - enters hilum and splits into:
Segmental Arteries - divide into:
Interlobar Arteries: (on either side of renal lobe). These Arch into:
Arcuate Arteries: Go to the periphery of the cortex where they are called:
Interlobular (cortical radiate) arteries