Renal Anatomy/Histology

Question 1

At what vertebral levels do the kidneys extend from?

Answer 1

T12 - L3

Question 2

Which kidney is slightly lower?

Answer 2

Right Kidney

– Due to the liver

Question 3

What anatomical plane at L1 runs above the left kidney’s hilum but through the superior pole of the right kidney?

Answer 3

Transpyloric plane

Question 4

The right kidney is lower; how far is its inferior pole from the right iliac crest?

Answer 4

1 index finger width

Question 5

What are the 3 points of constriction for the ureters?

Answer 5

1. Uretopelvic junction
2. Over common or external iliac
3. Uretovesical junction

Question 6

Describe the blood supply from the aorta to the peritubular capillaries?

Answer 6

Aorta
Renal Arteries
Segmental A. 
Interlobar A.
Arcuate A.
Interlobar A.
Afferent Arteriole
Glomerulus
Efferent Arteriole
Peritubular capillaries

Question 7

Describe the order of the blood back through the veins from the peritubular capillaries

Answer 7

Peritubular capillaries
Interlobar V.
Arcuate V.
Interlobar V.
Renal V.
Inferior Vena Cava

Question 8

What is the sympathetic innervation to the kidney?

Answer 8

Renal plexus

• Lesser splanchnic (T10-T11)
• Least splanchnic (T12)
• Lumbar Splanchnic (L1-L2)

Question 9

What ganglion does the renal plexus (sympathetic innervation to the kidney) synapse at?

Answer 9

Aorticorenal

Question 10

What is the parasympathetic innervation to the kidney?

Answer 10

Vagus N (CNX)

Question 11

What makes up the Renal Corpuscle?

Answer 11

Glomerulus and Bowman’s Capsule

Question 12

What makes up a nephron?

Answer 12

Renal corpuscle
Proximal Convoluted tubule
Proximal Straight tubule
Thin loop of Henle
Distal straight tubule
Distal Convoluted tubule

Question 13

What makes up a uriniferous tubule?

Answer 13

Nephron and collecting ducts

Question 14

Job of the uriniferous tubules?

Answer 14

Urine production and concentration

Question 15

What are cortical (medullary) rays?

Answer 15

Aggregation of collecting ducts and straight tubules in the cortex

Question 16

What do cortical (medullary) rays run between in the cortex?

Answer 16

Cortical labyrinth

Question 17

What is included in the cortical labyrinth?

Answer 17

Renal corpuscles and convoluted tubules

Question 18

What portions of the nephron are in the renal cortex?

Answer 18

Renal Corpuscle
Proximal convoluted tubule
Distal convoluted tubule

Question 19

What portions of the nephron are in the renal medulla?

Answer 19

Proximal straight tubule

Loop of Henle

Question 20

What type of endothelium is located at the glomerulus?

Answer 20

Fenestrated

Question 21

What immediately surrounds the glomerular capillaries?

Answer 21

Bowman’s capsule

Question 22

What are the 2 layers of Bowman’s capsule?

Answer 22

1. Visceral

2. Parietal

Question 23

What cell type lies in the visceral layer of Bowman’s capsule?

Answer 23

Podocytes

Question 24

Podocytes extend _____ around capillaries

Answer 24

Pedicels (foot processes)

Question 25

When pedicels from podocytes connect, what do they form?

Answer 25

Filtration slits

Question 26

Filtration slits are ______ selective filter

Answer 26

SIZE

Question 27

What type of epithelium is the parietal layer of Bowman's capsule?

Answer 27

Simple squamous

Question 28

What 3 things make up the filtration apparatus?

Answer 28

Fenestrated glomerular endothelium Glomerular basement membrane Visceral layer of Bowman's Capsule

Question 29

What does the glomerular basement membrane restrict?

Answer 29

Large proteins, like Albumin

Question 30

Mesangial cells + ECM =

Answer 30

Mesangium

Question 31

Where is the mesangium located?

Answer 31

Near the vascular pole of the Renal corpuscle

Question 32

What is a main function of the mesangium?

Answer 32

Contractile - modulates glomerular distention

Question 33

How can you identify a proximal convoluted tubule on a histo image?

Answer 33

Apical brush border -- cloudy lumen

Question 34

Descending or Ascending loop of Henle - where does water diffuse out?

Answer 34

Descending

Question 35

Descending or Ascending loop of Henle - where is the loop IMPERMEABLE to water?

Answer 35

Ascending

Question 36

What portion of the nephron can exchange sodium for potassium under Aldosterone?

Answer 36

Distal Convoluted Tubule

Question 37

How can you identify collecting tubules/ducts on a histo image?

Answer 37

Cell BOUNDARIES

Question 38

Job of Macula Densa cells?

Answer 38

Sense low sodium

Question 39

Where is the juxtaglomerular apparatus located?

Answer 39

Near vascular pole of renal corpuscle and at terminal portion of the distal straight tubule

Question 40

Where are juxtaglomerular cells?

Answer 40

On the afferent arterioles

Question 41

What things make up the urinary tract?

Answer 41

Ureters Bladder Urethra

Question 42

What type of epithelium is found at the urinary tract?

Answer 42

Transitional Epithelium -- "urothelium"

Question 43

What shape is the transitional epithelium when the bladder is empty?

Answer 43

Dome shaped

Question 44

What shape is the transitional epithelium when the bladder is full?

Answer 44

Flat

Question 45

The Urethra starts out as Transitional Epithelium, what does it end as?

Answer 45

Stratified squamous