Urinary System Intro & Anatomy

Question 1

What is the vascular supply of the kidneys?

Answer 1

Anterior to Posterior:

Vein

Artery

Pelvis (dilated part of ureter)

Question 2

What is the histology of the kidneys?

Answer 2

1. The kidney is arranged in many lobes, which are organised in a pyramidal structure.
2. The functional unit of the kidney is called the nephron which are continuous with a system of collecting tubules.
3. Nephrons are responsible for filtration, excretion and resorption. They also regulate water content, ion balance and help stabilise blood pressure.
4. By regulating water content and ion balance, the kidneys actually control the fluid balance of all other bodily fluids.
5. Within the cortex layer of the kidney, are structures known as renal corpuscles:
   
   1. A group of glomerular capillaries which grow into the blind ending of a nephron
   2. The nephron encapsulates all of these capillaries and invaginates to form Bowmans capsule.
   3. Blood is flitered through the glomerular capillaries through the visceral layer of epithelium into the Bowmans space
   4. After entering Bowmans space, the filtered blood can move into the proximal convoluted tubule.

Question 3

What is the histology of the ureters?

Answer 3

1) Transitional epithelium + lamina propria
2) NO glands or submucosa
3) Upper 2/3 = inner longitudinal, outer circular
4) Lower 1/3 = inner longitudinal, middle circular, outer longitudinal

Question 4

What is the location of the kidneys?

Answer 4

Location - T12-L3

Question 5

What is the structure of the Nephron?

Answer 5

Question 6

What is the structure of the glomerular filter (renal corpuscle)?

Answer 6

Question 7

What are the 3 constrictions of the ureters?

Answer 7

PUJ

Crossing of the common iliac bifurcation

VUJ

Question 8

What is the structure of the urethra?

Answer 8

Question 9

What is the structure of the urinary bladder?

Answer 9