Urinary Tract Flashcards
superior pole of kidney
this is the most superior part of the kidney and is where the adrenal glands sit on top of the kidneys
fibrous capsule
- this covers the outer surface of the entire organ
- it is a layer of collagen fibers
- important for preventing things from entering the kidneys that are not supposed to and preventing the spread of infection
perirenal fat
- this is a fat capsule that surrounds the fibrous capsule
- good for cushioning the kidneys and providing insulation
- this is a layer between the fibrous capsule and the renal fascia and there is a layer surrounding the the renal fascia called the pararenal fat
renal fascia
this is a dense outer layer that this acts to anchor the kidney to the posterior abdominal wall
hilum
this is on the medial surface
- this is an indentation where the renal blood and lymph vessels enter and leave, where the nerves enter and leave and where the ureter leaves
renal cortex
- this is deep to the renal capsule
- this is along the outer rim of the organ and extends into the medulla in the form of renal columns
renal medulla
this is made up of renal pyramids
- this is the site of the ducts and the tubules of the nephrons that drain urine into the minor calyx
renal papilla
this is the apex of the renal pyramid and this is the site that urine flows into the minor calyx
corticomedullary junction
- this is the region between the cortex and the medulla(right at the base of the pyramids)
- this is where the vast majority of nephrons are located and you can see blood vessels traveling here in many diagrams
minor calyx
this is the area right outside of the apex of the renal pyramid where urine first drains out of the collecting ducts
major calyx
this is where a couple minor calices merge and their contents merge
renal pelvis
- this is where the major calices all merge and drain the urine into the ureter
- it is a large funnel shaped chamber
renal arteries
- these supply oxygenated blood to the kidneys and branch from the descending aorta
- enter the kidney at the hilum
segmental arteries
- these are the first branches after the renal arteries enter the hilum
interlobar arteries
these are branches off of the segmental arteries and they travel between the renal pyramids and the renal column
arcuate arteries
- these branch off the interlobar arteries and they are the vessels that run along the base of the renal pyramid
cortical radiate arteries
these branch off of the arcuate arteries and they extend up into the cortex away from the base of the pyramid
afferent arterioles
- these branch off of the cortical radiate arteries
- these enter the glomerulus
- have a larger diameter than the efferent arterioles
efferent arterioles
- these exit the glomerulus
- significant because they are still containing oxygen rich blood after traveling though a capillary bed
- have a smaller diameter than the afferent arteriole that enters the glomerulus
cortical radiate veins
after the efferent arterioles, the blood travels into a secondary capillary bed around the capillary and this is where the blood becomes deoxygenated
- the venuoles after the capillary bed drain into the cortical radiate veins
- these then drain the blood from the renal cortex into the arcuate veins
arcuate veins
these are what the cortical radiate veins drain into
- these are along the base of the renal pyramid
interlobar veins
- the arcuate veins drain into these and they run in between the pyramid and the renal column
describe the pathway of blood through the kidney
- enters through the renal artery
- branches into the segmental artery
- which branches into the interlobar arteries
- then the arcuate arteries
- then the cortical radiate arteries
- then the afferent arterioles
- which enter the glomerulus
- then exit that at the efferent arteriole
- which travels to the peritubular capillaries
- merge into venules
- which drain into the cortical radiate veins
- and these drain into the arcuate veins
- which go into the interlobar veins
- which merge into the renal vein which leaves the kidney at the hilum and drains into the inferior vena cava
retroperitoneal
situated behind the peritoneum
- the kidneys are retroperitoneal
transitional epithelium
- epithelial cells which can contract and expand in order to adapt to the degree of distension (enlargment) needed
- prevent leakage
- this is found in everywhere the urinary tract after the renal pelvis
micturition
the action of urinating
what are the functions of the urinary system
- storage of urine
- excretion of urine
- regulation of blood volume
- regulation of ion balance/ acid base balance
- regulation of erythrocyte production
what part of the kidney is subject to the most potential damage
- the base of the kidney because it isn’t protected by the ribs