GU Anatomy Flashcards
(104 cards)
Where do the kidneys sit in the abdominal cavity?
The kidneys are often a source of retroperitoneal bleeds. The adrenal/suprarenal glands sit on top of the kidneys.
Where do the kidneys sit?
Kidneys sit between vertebral levels T12 and L3 in the retroperitoneal space. The right kidney is pushed down lower due to the presence of the liver, so it is more prone to trauma
What is the vascular supply to the kidneys?
Abdominal aorta and IVC
The renal arteries supply the kidneys and branch off of the abdominal aorta and the renal veins drain the blood from the kidneys and into the IVC
What does perinephric fat stranding tell us on CT?
“Perinephric fat stranding” on CT scan
Fat that cushions and protects the fat posteriorly. Can see haziness or fat stranding present when there is infection or pathology going on in the kidneys. It can indicate things like pyelonephritis.
What are the two main portions of the adrenal glands?
Cortex and medulla. Different types of hormones are secreted from these different areas of the kidney
Also called the suprarenal glands
What is the flow of urine through the kidneys?
Cortex → medulla (papilla) → minor calyces → major calyces → renal pelvis → ureter
Where do nephrons sit?
In the renal pyramid
Describe the ureters of the kidneys
They are mostly retroperitoneal and continuous with renal calyx. We can give drugs to help dilate the ureter to relax the smooth muscle and allow the stone to pass through. An example of a drug like this is Tamsulosin (Flomax).
Where are the most likely locations for constrictions or obstruction?
These are the common areas where kidney stones get caught and can cause back up of urine into the kidneys
What does a kidney stone look like on imaging?
Stone light up bright on scans and it is very painful
What spinal nerves innervate pain with kidney stones?
Spinal cord levels: T11-L2
How does urine not flow back up to the kidneys?
Distension closes the ureters to prevent backflow
Bladder neck and urethra
Folds of muscle and smooth muscle to help the bladder to distend and grow in size.
Dysfunction of the ureters and distension of the valve that close the bladder, result in what condition?
Vesicoureteral reflux
What is the bladder neck?
Area close the urethra and at the bottom of the trigone
The triangular area of smooth muscle in the bladder, is known as what and how is it important clinically?
It is called the trigone. This is where infections tend to persist and this how some patients may constantly be geting UTIs
What is the muscle of the bladder?
detrusor muscle, which contracts during urination to push the urine out
Define the preprostatic urethra
Internal urethral sphincter. Its main function is to prevent retrograde movement of semen into the bladder after ejaculation
Define the prostatic urethra
Ducts from the prostate give the substances found in semen
What is the membranous urethra/deep perineal pouch
Bulbo-urethral glands and ducts- they secrete an alkaline substance into the urethra during ejaculation, because semen is very acidic and we want to prevent the tissue from being damaged and the sperm from being killed.
External urethral sphincter which is a voluntary sphincter
What is the spongy urethra?
It is surrounded by the Corpus spongiosium, which is essentially just erectile tissue
What are the structures of the male urinary system?
The urethra is shorter or longer in females?
Shorter. This is one of the reasons why women get UTIs much more frequently
When are the testes formed?
The testes are formed in the abdomen in utero and then they descend down toward the pelvic area through the inguinal canal
What is an indirect inguinal hernia?
It is lateral to the epigastric artery. The intestines herniate down into the scrotal sac through the inguinal canal. As they descend into the scrotal sac, they bring with them, nerves, vessels, drainage ducts, etc.