WEEK 6 Flashcards
What layers encapsulate and protect the kidneys?
Firm (perirenal/nephric) fat
then renal fascia, derived from extra-peritoneal fascia (incl suprarenal gland)
then pararenal/nephric fat
Where are the kidneys located within the body? Which sits higher? Which is longer?
Extend from T12-L3
- the right is lower than the left
- left kidney is longer
- retroperitoneal
The functional unit within the kidney is the nephron, what does it consist of?
- Renal corpuscle (glomerulus)
- PCT
- Loop of Henle
- DCT
- Collecting duct
What is the functions of the nephron?
ULTRAFILTRATION 180 litres filtrate/24hr
REABSORPTION 1.5 litres urine/24h
- note that the blood flow which parallels the tubules is of equal functional importance
What posterior abdominal wall muscles is the kidneys related to?
diaphragm
quadratus lumborum
transversus abdominis
psoas major
Describe the anatomical makeup of the kidney
Has cortex and medulla, with the renal pyramids (housing the nephrons with their function of filtration and reabsorption) projecting as renal papillae into the calyces of the collecting system
Minor calyces converge on major calyces, which themselves form the renal pelvis that tucks in to the sinus of the kidney
At the hilum, the pelvis becomes the ureter that transports urine to the bladder
What is the blood supply of the kidneys?
Renal arteries, from aorta at L1/2 (L. higher than R)
- pass behind renal veins and divide at hilum into ant and post, often additional accessory extrahilar arteries from Ao
What is the lymph drainage of the kidneys?
Lymph to lumbar nodes, lateral to aorta
What structures are found in the kidneys hilum, from ant to post?
Vein
Artery
Pelvis of ureter
What 2 things does the left renal vein also receive?
Suprarenal and gonadal veins
Where is the IVC located? What does this result in in renal arteries? Why is this significant?
The IVC is to the right of the midline, so the right renal vein is short, making surgery difficult
Describe the various branching that occurs to the renal vein as it enters the hilum of the kidney.
Each renal artery divides into 5 segmental arteries
- lobar arteries arise from each segmental artery (one for each pyramid)
- before entering renal substance each lobar gives 2/3 interlobar arteries
What is the pathway of the interlobar arteries?
run toward the cortex on each side of the
renal pyramid
- At the junction of the cortex and the medulla the interlobar arteries give off the arcuate arteries, which arch over the bases of the pyramids
- The arcuate arteries give off several interlobular arteries that
ascend in the cortex
What are the afferent glomerular arterioles?
Arise as branches of the interlobular arteries
- give blood directly into the renal corpuscle
What is the nerve supply of the kidney?
Derived from T 12 and L 1, referring pain to back and lumbar region, as well as loin to groin.
- Afferents in the vagus may cause the nausea and vomiting associated with such pain
What is the ureters?
Muscular tubes that transport urine to the bladder
Where are the 3 places that the ureters narrow? This is where stones are most likely to stick.
Pelvic ureteric junction
Crossing the pelvic brim
Passing through the bladder wall
What structures does the ureters lie anterior to?
Psoas major
Branches of lumbar plexus
- cross the bifurcation of the common iliac artery
Normally (according to anatomy books) where do the ureters lie? Why is this not always the case?
Overlie the lumbar TPs
- due to normal human variation
Describe the position of the ureters in the pelvis, in both males and females. What structures do they need to pass between?
Enters pelvis from posterior abdominal wall - but much reach bladder which is anterior
- in males it passes between vas and seminal vesicle
- in females it passes posterior to ovary, inferior to uterine artery, passing the cervix and lateral fornix of the vagina
What is the blood supply of the ureters?
Aorta Renal Gonadal Common and int iliac Uterine, vaginal (females) Vesical (males)
Why is the lymphatic drainage of the ureters?
Para-aortic and iliac nodes
Describe the entrance of the ureters into the bladder wall, why is this significant?
Pass through the bladder wall obliquely
- creating a flap valve that prevents urine in the bladder from backing up and returning into the ureter (ureteric reflux)
What is the nerve supply of the ureters?
Complex, autonomic supply, more at lower end
- nerves aren’t required for peristalsis as there are many ‘pacemakers’ in calyces - muscle cell to muscle cell propagation of conduction, contraction - modulated by autonomic
D
- derived segmetally T10-12, L1, S2-4 from aortic, renal and pelvic pelvises
- referred pain mainlt T11 - L2 = loin to groin and scrotum OR labia