Kidney and ureter anatomy

Question 1

What is the weight range of the kidney?

Answer 1

130-170 g

Question 2

What is the relation of the kidneys to the vertebrae?

Answer 2

Extends from T12-L3, slightly lower on R

Question 3

What are the layers of the covering around the kidney from deep to superficial?

Answer 3

Fibrous capsule
Perinephric fate
Renal fascia
Paranephric fat

Question 4

What is nephroptosis/floating kidney/renal ptosis?

Answer 4

Abnormal condition where the kidney drops down into the pelvic when the pt stands up

Question 5

What enters/exits the hilum of the kidney from anterior to posterior?

Answer 5

Renal vein
Renal artery
Renal pelvis

Question 6

What are the relations/areas of the anterior R kidney?

Answer 6

Suprarenal area
Duodenal area
Hepatic area
Colic area
Jejunal area

Question 7

What are the relations/areas of the anterior L kidney?

Answer 7

Suprarenal area
Splenic area
Gastric area
Pancreatic area
Colic area
Jejunal area

Question 8

What are the relations of the posterior surface of the kidney?

Answer 8

Medial and lateral arcuate ligaments of diaphragm
11-12th rib (12th only on R)
Subcostal vessels and N
Iliohypogastric N
Ilioinguinal N
Psoas major
Quadratus lumborum
Transverse abdominis

Question 9

What is the location of the renal angle?

Answer 9

On the back between lower border of 12th rib and lateral border of erector spinae muscle

Question 10

At what level do the renal arteries branch from the aorta?

Answer 10

L2

Question 11

What are the 5 segmental arteries in the kidney?

Answer 11

Lobar A
Interlobar A
Arcuate A
Interlobular A
Afferent glomerular arterioles

Question 12

What are the 5 vascular segments of the kidney?

Answer 12

Apical
Superior (anterior)
Middle (anterior)
Inferior
Posterior

Question 13

What is the location of the avascular plane of Brodel?

Answer 13

Just posterior to the lateral convex border of the kidney

Question 14

What is the venous drainage of the kidney?

Answer 14

Efferent arteriole into peritubular capillaries and vasa recta
Then into cortical radiate V to arcuate V to interlobar V
Then into Renal V which drains into IVC

Question 15

Why is the L kidney most commonly transplanted?

Answer 15

L renal V is 3x longer than the R as it crosses in front of the aorta to reach the IVC

Question 16

What is the innervation of the kidney?

Answer 16

SyNS: Thoracic and lumbar spanchnic N (T11-L2) to renal plexuses

Question 17

What are the tree constriction points of the ureter?

Answer 17

Ureteropelvic junction
Crossing the pelvic brim at the bifurcation of common iliac A
Ureterovesical junction

Question 18

What forms the renal pelvis?

Answer 18

Union of major calyces within th erenal sinus

Question 19

What is the capacity of renal pelvis?

Answer 19

5-7 mL

Question 20

What is posteriorly related to the ureters?

Answer 20

Psoas major and the transverse processes of the lumbar vertebrae
Genitofemoral N

Question 21

What is anteriorly related to the R ureter?

Answer 21

Parietal peritoneum
R gonadal vessels
Second and third parts of duodenum
Root of mesentery

Question 22

What is anteriorly related to the L ureter?

Answer 22

Parietal peritoneum
L gonadal vessels
Apex of the V-shaped attachment of the sigmoid mesocolon

Question 23

What are the pelvic relations of the ureter in a female?

Answer 23

Inferior to uterine A and V
Anterior to all the nerves and vessels on the lateral pelvic wall

Question 24

What are the pelvic relations of the ureter in a male?

Answer 24

Posterolateral and inferior to ductus deferens
Anterior to all the nerves and vessels on the lateral pelvic wall

Question 25

What factors prevent urine reflux from bladder into ureters?

Answer 25

Oblique direction of intravesical part of ureter maintained by trigonal muscle Peristalsis of the ureteral muscle Pressure gradients

Question 26

What is the arterial supply of the proximal ureters?

Answer 26

Renal A

Question 27

What is the arterial supply of the middle ureters?

Answer 27

Gonadal A Aorta Common iliac A Internal iliac A

Question 28

What is the arterial supply of the distal ureter?

Answer 28

Internal iliac A Superior vesical A

Question 29

What is the venous drainage of the ureters?

Answer 29

Veins correspond to arteries and drain into VC system

Question 30

Where does lymph from the superior ureter drain?

Answer 30

Lateral aortic group of lymph nodes

Question 31

Where does lymph from the middle ureter drain?

Answer 31

Common iliac lymph nodes

Question 32

Where does lymph from the inferior ureter drain?

Answer 32

Internal and external iliac lymph nodes

Question 33

What is the innervation of the ureters?

Answer 33

SyNS: T10-L2 segments PsNS: Pelvic splanchnic (S2-S4) Via renal, aortic, and hypogastric plexuses

Question 34

What is a uretorocele?

Answer 34

Cystic dilatation of the inferior end of the the ureter that will result in expansion of the ureteric orifice when filled and deflation after emptying

Question 35

What is thought to cause a uretorocele?

Answer 35

Congenital atresia of the ureteric orifice