Urinary System 1

Question 1

Describe the gross anatomy of the kidneys

Answer 1

• bean shaped,
• retroperitoneal position
• adrenal glands sit on top of kidney
• renal hilum: cleft outside
• renal sinus: internal space

Question 2

Describe the gross anatomy of the kidneys: SUPPORTIVE TISSUE

Answer 2

3 layers
- renal fascia: dense CT surrounds and anchors adrenal gland + kidney

• perineal fat capsule: cushions kidney, holds in place
• renal capsule: directly anchors, protects against infections

Question 3

Describe the gross anatomy of the kidneys, including the blood & nerve supplies: BLOOD SUPPLY

Answer 3

• arterial branches pass up between pyramids to reach cortex, venous branches drain back same route

OXYGENATED IN:
aorta - renal artery - segmental artery - interlobar artery - arcuate artery - cortical radiate artery - afferent arteriole - glomerulus

DEOXYGENATED OUT:
glomerulus - efferent arteriole - peritubular capillaries or vasa recta- cortical radiate vein - arcuate vein - interlobar vein - renal vein - inferior vena cava

Question 4

Describe the gross anatomy of the kidneys: INTERNAL ANATOMY

Answer 4

1) cortex: waste removal

2) medulla:
- renal pyramids: striped due to urine tubules + capillaries, most nephron loops here
- renal columns: cortical tissue indents, separate pyramids

3) pelvis: tube continuous with ureter
- calyces: collect urine, drain into pelvis
- minor calyx: enclose papillae of pyramid
- all smooth muscle, propel urine by peristalsis

Question 5

Describe the gross anatomy of the kidneys: NERVE SUPPLY

Answer 5

• nerve supply provided by renal plexus
• sympathetic fibers
• regulate blood flow by adjusting diameters of renal arteries (afferent arterioles)
• glomerular capillaries are drained by efferent arterioles whose diameter is smaller than the afferent arterioles that feed them; this creates the high blood pressure that drives filtration.

Question 6

Describe the gross anatomy of the kidneys: RENAL CORPUSCLE

Answer 6

glomerulus
bowman’s capsule

• podocytes: epithelial cells
• pedicels/foot processes: increase surface area
• filtration slits: where filtrate enters capsular space

Question 7

Describe the structure of a nephron: differentiate between cortical & juxtamedullary nephrons

Question 8

Describe the structural organization of the juxtaglomerular apparatus

Question 9

Differentiate between the micturition pathway in males and that in females