The Urinary System (intro) Flashcards
(22 cards)
Which organs does the urinary system consist of
Kidneys
Ureters
Urinary Bladder
Urethra
What are the kidneys surrounded by
Dense fibrous capsule
A fascial pouch surrounds this (renal fascia) containing the peri-renal adipose tissue
Describe the location of the kidney
Retroperitoneal in the upper abdomen
Overlapped postern-superiorly by the diaphragm and pleural cavity
Right kidney is usually slightly lower than the left
Superior pole of the right kidney is at the 11th intercostal space and left is at the 11th rib
Hilum lies at L1
What are the posterior relations of the kidneys
11th and 12th rib diaphragm transversus abdominis muscle Quadratus lumborum Psoas major muscle
Which nerves run posterior to the kidney
subcostal nerve
illiohypogastric nerve
illioinguinal nerve
What are the anterior relations of the kidney
right: liver, hepatic flexure, hills behind the 2nd duodenum part
left: stomach, pancreas, spleen, splenic flexure
Describe the blood supply of the kidney
Abundant blood supply via renal arteries (short direct branches from abdominal aorta)
Renal veins drain into the IVC
Describe the lobes of the kidney
Multilobar and each lobe drains through its own papilla and calyx
Describe the location of the ureters
Runs vertically down the posterior abdominal wall
Place of the transverse processes of L vertebrae
Crosses the pelvic Brin anterior to the sacroiliac joint
Descends anteromedially to enter the bladder at the level of the ischial spine
Describe or urine is transported through the ureter
Transported by peristalsis of the smooth muscle walls
What are the 3 usual sites of ureteric constriction
- pelviureteric junction (at the top)
- where ureter crosses pelvic brim
- where ureter traverses bladder wall
Describe the bladder
Pelvic organ
Triangular pyramid with apex pointing anteriorly and base posteriorly
Lined by urothelium
3-layered epithelium with very slow cell turnover
Describe the membrane of large luminal cells and its importance
Highly specialised low-permeability luminal membrane
Prevents dissipation of urine-plasma gradients
What are the two types of urinary sphincters
Sphincter vesicae (internal sphincter - smooth muscle) Sphincter urethrae (external sphincter - striated muscle)
Describe the sphincter vesicae
At the neck of the bladder
Reflex opening
In response to bladder wall tension
Relaxed by PNS and contracts by SNS
Describe the sphincter urethrae
In the perineum
Tone maintained by somatic nerves in the pudendal nerves
Opened by voluntary inhibition of nerves
Children are unable to control this sphincter
Describe the differences in the blood supply for the right and left kidneys
As the IVC lies to the left
Right renal artery is longer than the left and passes behind the IVCThe left renal vein is longer than the right and crosses in front of the aorta
Where do aneurysms in the aorta often occur
Beneath the superior mesenteric artery
Describe the medulla of the kidney
Medulla is striated due to radial arrangement of tubules and micro-vessels
Describe the cortex of the kidney
Cortex is granular-looking due to random organisation
What are constrictions
Constrictions are sites of renal colic caused by kidney stones attempting to pass
Where are bladder cancers most likely to arise
Trigone area
Triangular area in the bladder formed
