UROGENITAL (PART 1)

Question 1

What organs are superior (above) to the kidneys?

Answer 1

Adrenal glands

Question 2

Where are the kidneys located?

Answer 2

Upper abdomen, behind the abdominal cavity
Partially covered by the liver (right) and spleen (left)
Level of the 12th rib

Question 3

How do the kidneys receive blood?

Answer 3

Renal arteries branch from the abdominal aorta

Question 4

What is the path that urine takes from the kidneys to be expelled from the body?

Answer 4

Kidneys -> ureters -> bladder -> urethra

Question 5

What is located on top of each kidney?

Answer 5

Adrenal gland (separate blood supply and nerves from kidneys)

Question 5

Where does deoxygenated blood from the kidneys go?

Answer 5

Renal veins drain into the inferior vena cava

Question 6

What are the main functions of the kidneys?

Answer 6

Regulate fluid volume and composition of body fluids (water, electrolytes, pH)
Excrete waste products (urea, creatinine)
Vitamin D synthesis, blood pressure regulation, erythropoietin (EPO) production

Question 7

Describe the anatomical location of the kidneys

Answer 7

Retroperitoneal space, posterior abdominal wall
Level of 12th thoracic and 3rd lumbar vertebrae
Protected by muscles, fascia, fat, and organs anteriorly and posteriorly
Perineal fat capsule and fasciae cushion and anchor the kidneys

Question 8

What is the hilum of a kidney?

Answer 8

The indentation on the medial side of the kidney where blood vessels enter and other structures enters and leave

Question 9

What are the layers of a kidney from outside to inside?

Answer 9

Fibrous capsule
Renal cortex (outer region)
Renal medulla (inner region)
Minor calyces (collecting urine)
Major calyces (collecting urine from minor calyces)
Ureter (draining urine to the bladder)

Question 10

What is the main blood vessel supplying blood to the kidneys?

Answer 10

Renal artery, branching from the abdominal aorta

Question 11

Trace the pathway of blood flow through the kidney arteries:

Answer 11

Renal artery -> segmental arteries -> lobar arteries -> interlobar arteries (toward cortex) -> arcuate arteries (arch over pyramids) -> interlobular arteries (cortical radiate arteries)

Question 12

How do afferent arterioles differ from efferent arterioles

Answer 12

Afferent arterioles: carry blood toward the glomerulus for filtration
Efferent arterioles: carry blood away from the glomerulus after filtration

Question 13

Describe the path of blood flow after the afferent arteriole:

Answer 13

Peritubular capillaries: run alongside the renal tubule for reabsorption
Vasa recta (optional): long vessels following the nephron loop (maintain the osmotic gradient in the medulla of the kidney)
Interlobular veins: drain blood from capillaries
Arcuate veins: drain interlobular veins
Renal vein: exits the kidney at the hilum

Question 14

What are ureters and what do they do?

Answer 14

Two tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder

Question 15

What is the structure of the ureters?

Answer 15

Approximately 28-34 cm long
Fibromuscular: a mix of fibrous and muscular tissue

Question 16

How do ureters prevent backflow of urine to the kidneys?

Answer 16

Oblique angle of entry into the bladder creates a one-way valve effect
Muscles in the ureters and bladder pressure also contribute

Question 17

What is vesicoureteral reflux (VUR)?

Answer 17

The abnormal flow of urine from the bladder to the kidneys

Question 17

What are the two main types of VUR?

Answer 17

Primary VUR: a birth defect in the ureter valve
Secondary VUR: caused by a blockage in the bladder or urethra

Question 18

How is urine moved through the ureters?

Answer 18

By peristalsis, a wave-like muscular contraction that propels urine forward

Question 19

What is the bladder and where is it located?

Answer 19

A muscular sac-like organ in the pelvis that stores urine
Located below the abdominal cavity and behind the pubic bones

Question 20

What is the structure of the bladder?

Answer 20

Thick smooth muscle walls
Lined with epithelial cells

Question 21

What is the normal capacity of the bladder?

Answer 21

Around 300-500 ml

Question 22

What is urinary retention?

Answer 22

The inability to empty the bladder

Question 23

What is the urethra and what does it do?

Answer 23

A tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside
Made of smooth muscle with skeletal muscle sphincter at the end
In males, it also carries sperm

Question 24

How is urine treated in cases of urinary retention?

Answer 24

Catheterisation: a thin tube is inserted to drain urine, either through the urethra or surgically through the abdomen

Question 25

What triggers involuntary micturition contractions?

Answer 25

Increased urine volume in the bladder and pressure on the bladder wall
This triggers a parasympathetic reflex

Question 25

What is the difference between male and female urethras?

Answer 25

Male urethra is longer (around 20 cm) and carries both sperm and urine
Female urethra is shorter (around 3-5 cm) and carries only urine

Question 26

What happens during a micturition reflex?

Answer 26

Bladder contracts (involuntary) to expel urine
Internal urethral sphincter muscles relax to allow urine flow

Question 27

What is the role of the external urethral sphincter?

Answer 27

Voluntarily controls urination (continence)

Question 28

What can cause loss of urinary control (incontinence)?

Answer 28

Spinal cord or brain injury
Age-related change
Other medical conditions