Urinary System Notes Flashcards
What is acute tubular necrosis (ATN)? What is it the most common cause of?
Ischemic necrosis of tubular cells; most common cause of renal failure.
What does the afferent arteriole do?
Carries blood entering the glomerulus.
What is an angiomyolipoma?
A benign tumor composed of blood vessels, smooth muscle, and fat.
What is angiotensin? 3
Polypeptide in the blood that:
1. Causes vasoconstriction
2. Increase in blood pressure
3. Release of aldosterone.
What is Bowman’s capsule?
A cup-like structure surrounding the glomerulus.
What does the efferent arteriole do?
Carries the blood away from the glomerulus.
What is fascia?
Fibrous connective membrane of the body that may be separate from other structures.
What is Gerota’s fascia?
Protective covering of tissue surrounding each kidney.
What is glomerulonephritis?
Inflammation of the glomerulus of the kidney.
What is the glomerulus composed of?
Structure composed of blood vessels or nerve fibers.
What is a hypertrophied column of Bertin?
Enlargement of a column of Bertin that extends into the renal pyramid.
What is an infundibulum?
Portion of the collecting system composed of the minor and major calyces.
What is a medullary pyramid?
Renal pyramid.
What is a papilla?
Blunt apex of the renal pyramid.
What is a parapelvic cyst?
Fluid-filled mass of lymphatic origin located within the renal sinus.
What is pelviectasis?
Dilation of the renal pelvis.
What is renal colic?
Sharp, severe flank pain radiating to the groin.
What is renal failure?
The inability of the kidneys to excrete waste, concentrate urine, and conserve electrolytes.
What is renal insufficiency?
Partial kidney function failure characterized by less than normal urine output.
What is a renal lobe?
Portion of the kidney consisting of a single pyramid, bordered on both sides by the interlobar arteries, with cortical tissue at its base.
What is renal parenchyma?
The functional tissue of the kidney consisting of the nephrons.
What is renal sinus lipomatosis?
Excessive accumulation of fat in the renal sinus.
What is renin?
Renal enzyme that affects blood pressure.
What is a staghorn calculus?
Large stone forming in the renal pelvis and extending into some or all of the calyces.
What is a twinkle artifact?
Quick fluctuating color Doppler signal from a rough surface or highly reflective object.
What is the urachus?
Epithelial tube connecting the apex of the urinary bladder to the umbilicus.
What is a ureterocele?
Prolapse of the distal ureter into the urinary bladder.
What is the nephron?
The basic functional unit of the kidney.
What is the composition of a nephron? What is each composed of?
Composed of
1. Renal corpuscle (glomerulus, Bowman’s capsule, afferent arteriole, efferent arteriole)
2. Renal tubule (proximal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle, distal convoluted tubule).
How many nephrons does each kidney contain?
More than one million nephrons.
What are the functions of the urinary system? 5
- Produces urine and erythropoietin
- Influences blood pressure, blood volume
- intake or excretion of salt and water through the renin–angiotensin system
- Regulates serum electrolytes
- Regulates acid–base balance.
What is the renal capsule?
Fibrous capsule (true capsule) surrounding the cortex.
What is the renal cortex? What does it contain?
- Outer portion of the kidney, bound by the renal capsule and arcuate vessels
- Contains glomerular capsules and convoluted tubules.
What is the medulla?
Inner portion of the renal parenchyma where the renal pyramids lie.
What are renal pyramids?
Triangular structures with a narrow tip (apex) that sits within the minor calyx and a wider base that abuts the renal cortex; contain tubules and the loops of Henle.
What does the collecting system consist of? 2
Consists of the infundibulum and renal pelvis.
What is the column of Bertin?
Inward extension of the renal cortex between the renal pyramids.
What is the renal sinus?
Central portion of the kidney containing the major and minor calyces, peripelvic fat, fibrous tissues, arteries, veins, lymphatics, and part of the renal pelvis.
What is the renal hilum?
Contains the renal artery, renal vein, and ureter.
What is the main renal artery? Which side is longer?
Arises from the aorta; the right renal artery is longer than the left and demonstrates low-resistance blood flow.
What are segmental arteries?
Branches of the main renal artery that demonstrate low-resistance blood flow.
What are interlobar arteries?
Branches of the segmental artery that course alongside the renal pyramids.
What are arcuate arteries? What is it a branch of?
- Boundary between the cortex and medulla
- Branches of the interlobar artery located at the base of the medulla.
What are interlobular arteries?
Give rise to the afferent arteries to enter the glomerulus.