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REN > Topography of the Urinary System > Flashcards

Topography of the Urinary System Flashcards

1
Q

List 6 functions of the urinary system.

A

1 - To maintain an optimal hydration status.

2 - To maintain optimal electrolyte levels.

3 - To control blood pressure.

4 - To clear the aqueous phase of products of metabolism.

5 - To clear drugs / exogenous molecules.

6 - To promote haemopoesis via haemopoetin.

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2
Q

List the components of the urinary system.

A

1 - Systemic blood vessels.

2 - Renal arteries and veins.

3 - 2 kidneys.

4 - 2 ureters.

5 - The urinary bladder.

6 - The urethra.

7 - Continence and micturition centres of the CNS.

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3
Q

In which anatomical region is the urinary system kept?

A

The abdominopelvic region.

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4
Q

How are the viscera of the urinary system divided?

A

Into upper and lower urinary tracts:

  • The upper urinary tract is composed of the kidneys and ureters.
  • The lower urinary tract is composed of the urinary bladder and urethra.
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5
Q

How does the urinary system differ between males and females?

A

The male urethra is also the passageway for semen from the gonads.

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6
Q

Are the kidneys, ureters and urinary bladder intraperitoneal or retroperitoneal?

A
  • The kidneys and proximal half of the ureters are retroperitoneal.
  • The urinary bladder and distal half of the ureters are intraperitoneal.
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7
Q

Is the urinary bladder in the true or false pelvis?

A
  • When empty, it is only in the true pelvis.

- When full, it is in both the true and the false pelvis.

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8
Q

Through which surface does the urethra pass?

A

The perineum.

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9
Q

How does the upper urinary tract differ functionally from the lower urinary tract?

A
  • The upper urinary tract is concerned with the production of urine.
  • The lower urinary tract is concerned with the storage and excretion of urine.
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10
Q

List the main muscles of the posterior abdominal wall.

A

1 - Quadratus lumborum.

2 - Psoas major and minor.

3 - Left and right crura of the diaphragm.

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11
Q

What are the crura of the diaphragm?

A

A tendinous structure of the diaphragm that extends to the vertebral column.

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12
Q

What are paravertebral gutters?

A

Spaces formed by medial and lateral lumbosacral arches that house the kidneys.

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13
Q

What forms lumbosacral arches?

A

Thickenings of fasciae of quadratus lumborum, psoas major and psoas minor.

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14
Q

On which sides of the vertebral column are the abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava?

A
  • The abdominal aorta lies to the left of the vertebral column.
  • The inferior vena cava lies to the right of the vertebral column.
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15
Q

At which vertebral level does the abdominal aorta give rise to the renal arteries?

A

L1/2.

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16
Q

Which veins form the renal veins?

A

The interlobular veins.

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17
Q

Into which vein does the renal vein empty?

A

The inferior vena cava.

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18
Q

List the ways in which the left renal vein differs from the right renal vein.

A
  • The left renal vein is longer (as the inferior vena cava is on the right side of the body).
  • The left renal vein also drains blood from the left suprarenal, left gonadal and left ascending lumbar veins.
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19
Q

Which organs lie superior to the kidneys?

A

The adrenal / suprarenal glands.

20
Q

Describe the anterior relations of the right kidney.

A
  • The duodenum lies anterior to the medial border.
  • The right lobe of the liver lies anterior to the superior 2/3.
  • The jejunum and right colic flexure lie anterior to the inferior 1/3.
21
Q

What are colic flexures?

A

The bends between the ascending, descending and transverse colon.

22
Q

What is the hilum of the kidney?

A

The recessed central fissure where its vessels, nerves and ureter pass.

23
Q

Describe the anterior relations of the left kidney.

A
  • The spleen lies anterior to the lateral border.
  • The pancreas and stomach lie anterior to the superior portion.
  • The jejunum and left colic flexure lie anterior to the inferior portion.
24
Q

List the posterior relations of the right kidney.

A

1 - The diaphragm.

2 - The costodiaphragmatic recess of the pleura.

3 - The 12th rib.

4 - Quadratus lumborum.

5 - Psoas major and minor.

6 - Transversus abdominis.

7 - The subcostal nerve.

8 - The iliohypogastric nerve.

9 - The ilioinguinal nerve.

25
Q

What are the spinal nerve roots of the subcostal nerve?

A

T12.

26
Q

What are the spinal nerve roots of the iliohypogastric nerve?

A

L1.

27
Q

What are the spinal nerve roots of the ilioinguinal nerve?

A

L1.

28
Q

What is horseshoe kidney?

A

A congenital disorder whereby the kidneys fuse during development to form a horseshoe shape.

29
Q

List the coverings of the kidneys from deep to superficial.

A

1 - Fibrous capsule.

2 - Perirenal fat.

3 - Renal fascia (Gerota’s fascia).

4 - Pararenal fat (forms the retroperitoneal fat).

30
Q

Of which tissue is the renal fascia (Gerota’s fascia) a continuation?

A

Transversalis fascia.

31
Q

What are the outer and inner zones of the kidneys known as?

A
  • The outer zone is the cortex.

- The inner zone is the medulla.

32
Q

Why does the renal cortex appear granular in appearance?

A

Due to its high content of glomeruli.

33
Q

Why does the renal medulla appear striated in appearance?

A

Due to its straight tubules and collecting ducts.

34
Q

What is the functional unit of the kidney?

A

The nephron.

35
Q

How many nephrons are contained within a kidney?

A

~ 1 million.

36
Q

List the segments of a nephron.

A
  • The proximal convoluted tubule.
  • The loop of Henle.
  • The distal convoluted tubule.
37
Q

Describe the path taken by renal arteries.

What is different about the path taken by the right renal artery?

A
  • From the aorta, they course anterior to the crura of the diaphragm and psoas muscles to reach the hilum of the kidneys.
  • The right renal artery is longer and lower than the left renal artery.
  • The right renal artery also passes behind the vena cava, head of the pancreas and second part of the duodenum.
38
Q

What is the difference between the preperitoneal, retroperitoneal and extraperitoneal spaces?

A
  • The extraperitoneal space includes the preperitoneal and retroperitoneal spaces.
  • The preperitoneal space is the space anterior to the peritoneum whereas the retroperitoneal space is the space posterior to the peritoneum.
39
Q

In which tissue are the ureters contained?

A

Extraperitoneal connective tissue.

40
Q

Describe the path taken by the ureters.

A

They descend anterior to the psoas major / minor muscles until crossing the bifurcation of the common iliac arteries (into the internal and external iliac arteries) where they enter the pelvis.

41
Q

List the structures that cross the ureters.

A
  • Each ureter is crossed by the testicular / ovarian vessels.
  • The right ureter is also crossed by the ileocolic and right colic vessels.
  • The left ureter is also crossed by the left colic vessels.
42
Q

List the divisions of the urinary bladder.

Describe the function of each division.

A

1 - Body (temporary store of urine).

2 - Trigone (triangular region of the urinary bladder formed by the two ureteric orifices and the urethral orifice).

3 - Neck (connects bladder to urethra.

43
Q

List the muscular components of the urinary bladder.

A

1 - Detrusor urinae muscle.

2 - Internal urethral sphincter.

3 - External urethral sphincter.

44
Q

What forms the external urethral sphincter?

A

Pelvic floor muscles.

45
Q

Describe the histology of the detrusor urinae muscle.

A
  • It is a mesh of smooth muscle fibres.
  • In cross section, the muscle fibres run in all orientations.
  • The muscle fibres are arranged in layers.
46
Q

What is the advantage of the way in which the muscle fibres of the detrusor urinae muscle are oriented?

A

It confers strength to the urinary bladder irrespective of direction of stretch.

REN (19 decks)

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