Urinary Anatomy - Kidneys Flashcards
(34 cards)
How does the urinary system maintain body homeostasis?
Regulation of body fluid volume and electrolyte balance by the mechanisms of blood filtration and blood pressure regulation
Give five reasons why the urinary system is so important
- Removes metabolic waste via filtration and excretion
- Regulates plasma electrolytes and blood pressure
- Stabilises the pH
- Resorption of small molecules - AA, Glc, peptides
- Produces erythropoietin (stimulant of RBC production)
Name the components of the urinary system and each of their function
- Kidneys - maintains homeostasis
- Ureters - muscular duct carry urine
- Bladder - muscular sac which stores urine
- Urethra - ducts which connects urinary bladder to urinary meatus
Where are the kidneys found in the Boyd?
In the paravertebral gutters on the posterior abdominal wall on either side of the vertebrae T12-L3
At what level is the transpyloric plane?
L1
What plane goes through the hilum of the kidney?
Transpyloric plane
What enters the hilum of the kidney?
Blood vessels and ureter
Why do the kidneys not lie at the same vertebral level?
Right is lower due the the liver
How are the kidneys peritonised?
Retroperitoneal but only partially peritonised (as retroperitoneal organs sit on top)
What are the four layers of fascia which enclose the kidney?
- Fibrous renal capsule
- Fatty renal capsule
- Renal fascia - fibro-fatty tissue (Gerota’s fascia)
- Pararenal fatty tissue - mainly on the posterior aspect of kidney
What is the importance of the fatty tissue around the kidneys?
Protection
What two muscles lie on the posterior abdominal pall, posterior to the kidneys?
Psoas major and quadratus lumborum
What happens to the position of the kidney during respiration?
Close relation to diaphragm and so moves up and down with resp
What structures overlie the R kidney, causing it to be partially peritonised?
Suprarenal gland Liver Duodenum Colon Jejunum
What structures overlie the L kidney, causing it to be partially peritonised?
Suprarenal gland Stomach Speen Pancreas Area for smalll bowel Left colonic flexure
Which nerve innervate the kidneys
- Sympathetic nerve T12-L1 via coeliac ganglia
* Parasympathetic nerve from vagus
Which lymph nodes drain the kidneys?
Para-aortic lymph nodes (around origin of renal artery (L1)
Name two embryological anomalies of the kidney
Horseshoe kidney and duplicated ureter
What is the anomaly in horseshoe kidney?
- Inferior pole of each kidney fused together
- Can have abnormal position (stuck inferior to the IMA), abnormal insertion of ureter
- More prone to hydronephrosis, infection, stone formation, tumours
What is the anomaly in duplicated ureter?
- Formed fue to duplication of ureteric bud from the mesonephric duct
- Can be asymptomatic
- Can result in vesicoureteric reflux and UTI
What structures are found within the renal medulla?
Renal pyramid Calyx (minor and major) Renal pelvis Ureter Hilum of kidney
What are the two layers of the kidney?
Cortex and medulla
What are the structures which form the nephron?
- Renal corpuscle
- Proximal convoluted tube
- Loop of Henle
- Distal convoluted tube
- Collecting tubule
What structures form the renal corpuscle in the nephron?
- Bowman’s capsule (visceral and parietal layers)
- Bowman’s space
- Glomerula capillaries
