GU anatomy

Question 1

structures of the urinary system

Answer 1

2 kidneys, Ureters, 1 urinary , 1 urethra

Question 2

appearance of the kidneys

Answer 2

• The kidneys are ‘ bean-shaped’
• The kidneys extend from T12-L3
• The right kidney is lower than the left, due to the liver sitting superior to it - They are Retroperitoneal – outside/behind the peritoneum

Question 3

3 supportive tissue layers that surround the kidney

Answer 3

• Fibrous capsule
• Peri-renal fat capsule
• Renal fascia

Question 4

Fibrous capsule of kidney

Answer 4

Is a transparent layer that covers the outer surface of the kidney. It helps to support kidney mass and protects the vital tissue from injury/infection.

Question 5

Peri-renal fat capsule of kidney

Answer 5

Attaches the kidney to the posterior body

Question 6

Renal fascia of the kidney

Answer 6

• An outer layer of dense fibrous connective tissue

- Anchors the kidney and the adrenal glands to surrounding structures

Question 7

Kidney internal structures

Answer 7

cortex 
Medulla
medullary (renal) pyramids
renal columns
renal pelvis
hilum

Question 8

Cortex of kidney

Answer 8

• Reddish-brown tissue layer, located immediately below the outer fibrous capsule
• It also surrounds the renal pyramids in the medulla

Question 9

medulla of kidney

Answer 9

is the innermost layer comprised of renal pyramids

Question 10

Appearance of Medulla

Answer 10

• striped appearance- due to being made of parallel budnles of microscopic collecting tubules and capillaries
• each pyramid constitutes a lobe of the kidney

Question 11

Renal columns

Answer 11

• Separates the pyramids
• ## they are an extension of the cortex

Question 12

Renal pelvis

Answer 12

• Funnel shaped tube
• continuous with the ureter
• extensions of the renal pelvis branch into major and minor calyces

Question 13

renal pelvis (calyces)

Answer 13

• collect urine, which drain from the papilla and empties into the renal pelvis

Question 14

Hilum of Kidneys

Answer 14

• concave medial border of the kidney where the renal blood vessels, lymph vessels and nerve enter and leave

Question 15

VUJ abbreviation

Answer 15

Vesico-ureteric junction

Question 16

Kidney Blood Supply: Arterial

Answer 16

• Aorta
• Renal artery
• 5 segmental arteries
• lobar arteries
• interlobar arteries
• arcuate arteries
• cortical radiate arteries (interlobular arteries)

Question 17

Kidney blood supply: Venous

Answer 17

• interlobular veins
• arcuate veins
• interlobar veins
• renal vein
• IVC

Question 18

kidney nerve supply: renal plexus

Answer 18

• A network of the autonomic nervous system
• Arises from the celiac plexus
• surrounds the renal artery
• Accompanies the …..into the kidney which it innervates (supply a body part with nerves)

Question 19

position of the ureters

Answer 19

• From the renal pelvis (level of L2)
• lies behind the peritoneum
• enters the posterior bladder wall

Question 20

Structure of ureters

Answer 20

they are tri-layered

• inner layer- made of transitional epithelium
• middle layer consists of smooth muscle for persistalsis
• outer layer - made of fibrous connective tissue

Question 21

function of ureters

Answer 21

• transports urine

- bladder pressure prevents backflow…..

Question 22

structure of the urinary bladder

Answer 22

• 12cm long
• holds 500 mls
• thin walled and muscular- smooth
• lined with epithelium
• rugae
• retroperitoneal
• interior openings - into the ‘trigone’ of the bladder

Question 23

urinary bladder 3 layers of wall

Answer 23

• inner layer - muscosa
• middle layer - muscularis (detrusor muscle)
• outer layer - Adventita

Question 24

Urethra

Answer 24

extends from the neck of the bladder to external

Question 25

bladder meets the urethra

Answer 25

- internal urethral sphincter - thickening of muscle - involuntary sphincter

Question 26

involuntary sphincter

Answer 26

keeps the urethra closed | prevents leakage of urine

Question 27

Urethra: passing through the pelvic floor

Answer 27

- external urethral sphincter - skeletal muscle - Voluntary control

Question 28

Urethra differences in males and females

Answer 28

Males - is substantially longer (20cm) and has 3 regions (prostatic urethra, membranous urethra and the spongy/penile urethra females - 3-4cm in length

Question 29

Nephron - functions

Answer 29

- filters the blood - Balances water and electrolytes in the body - produces urine containing metabolic waste products ......

Question 30

types of Nephron

Answer 30

cortical and juxtamedullary

Question 31

cortical nephron

Answer 31

- 85% of nephrons in kidney - Located entirely in the cortex - LoH (loop of Henle) 'dips' into medulla

Question 32

juxtamedullary nephrons

Answer 32

- originate close to cortex/medulla junction | - LoH descends into the medulla portion of the kidney

Question 33

component parts of the Nephron

Answer 33

- Glomerular/Bowmans capsule (glomerulus) - Proximal convoluted tubule - Loop of Henle ( Descending and Ascending limbs) - Distal convoluted tubule - collecting ducts

Question 34

Glomerular/Bowmans capsule

Answer 34

- located at the end of the renal tubule - cup shaped - encloses the glomerulus

Question 35

Glomerulus

Answer 35

- a tuft (a network of blood vessels) of capillaries, which bring unfiltered blood in to be filtered. - Arises from arterial blood supply, which enter the kidney via the renal artery

Question 36

parietal layer of Glomerular/Bowmans capsule

Answer 36

simple squamous epithelium - a single layer of flat scale-shaped cells

Question 37

inner layer of Glomerular/Bowmans capsule

Answer 37

- This layer lines the capsule | - composed of podocytes.....

Question 38

Gomerulus - afferent arterioles

Answer 38

These being blood to the Nephron .....

Question 39

Glomerulus - efferent arterioles

Answer 39

these take blood away from the nephron ....

Question 40

The Nephron - capillary beds and renal processes