Urinary tract Flashcards
Which part of the abdomen are the kidneys located in?
The posterior retroperitoneal lumbar regions
What level do they extend from and to (left and right)?
T11/12 to L2/3
The right kidney is often situated slightly lower due to the presence of the liver. Right at (T12) in the abdomen and the left at (T11). Each kidney is approximately three vertebrae in length.
How far does the kidney hilum sit from the body midline?
5cm
What two features protect the kidneys?
The kidneys are surrounded by a thick layer of peri-nephric fat and the upper parts are protected by the 11th and 12th ribs.
What organs lie anterior to the left kidney?
Spleen, stomach, pancreas, jejunum
What organs lie anterior to the right kidney?
Liver, duodenum
What are the four layers of fascia and fat surrounding kidney from deep to superficial?
Renal capsule: tough fibrous capsule.
Perirenal fat: collection of extraperitoneal fat.
Renal fascia (also known as Gerota’s fascia or perirenal fascia): encloses the kidneys and the suprarenal glands
Pararenal fat: mainly located on the posterolateral aspect of the kidney.
What two regions can the renal parenchyma be divided into?
Renal cortex and inner renal medulla
What forms renal pyramids?
The cortex extends into the medulla, dividing it into triangular shapes – these are known as renal pyramids.
What is the name of the apex of the renal pyramid?
Renal papilla
What joins from the renal papilla that drains the renal pyramid?
The minor calyx
What do several minor calices form?
Major calyx
What do the the major calices drain into?
Renal pelvis
From the renal pelvis, where does fluid drain?
Ureter
What enters/leaves at the renal hilum?
Renal vessels and ureter
What vessels supply the kidneys?
Renal arteries, which arise directly from the abdominal aorta
What level do the renal arteries leave the aorta?
Immediately below superior mesenteric arteries L1-L3
Which renal artery is longer, why?
Due to the anatomical position of the abdominal aorta (slightly to the left of the midline), the right renal artery is longer
How does the right renal artery cross the vena cava?
Posteriorly
Are there anastomoses of the renal artery?
No, the renal artery branches are anatomical end arteries
What becomes of the renal artery at the hilum level?
At the hilum level, the renal artery forms an anterior and a posterior division
What proportion of the blood is in the posterior and anterior division of the renal artery?
75% anterior and 25% posterior
What do the anterior and posterior divisions of renal arteries divide into?
5 segmental branches
What do the 5 segmental arteries divide into?
Interlobar arteries
Where are interlobar arteries positioned?
Either side of each renal pyramid
What do interLOBAR arteries divide into?
Arcuate arteries
What do the arcuate arteries give rise to at 90 degrees?
Interlobular arteries
What do the interLOBULAR arteries divide into
Afferent arterioles
What happens to the afferent arterioles?
They converge to form a capillary network (glomerulus) and efferent arterioles
What arteries supply the outer 2/3 of cortex nephron?
Efferent arterioles form a peritubular network, supplying the nephron tubules
What region is the peritubular network in?
Outer 2/3 of the cortex