Gray's Anatomy for Students Quiz

Kidneys

• The kidneys are located retroperitoneally and have close anatomical relationships with various abdominal organs.
• The right kidney has significant contact with the liver, whereas the left kidney is adjacent to the stomach and spleen.
• Each kidney is associated with a suprarenal gland, which is pyramidal in shape on the right and crescent-shaped on the left.

Suprarenal Glands

• Right suprarenal gland is wedged between the kidney, liver, and inferior vena cava (IVC), while the left is located deep to the body of the pancreas and relates more medially to the left kidney.

Abdominal Wall Musculature

• The psoas major muscle originates from T12-L5 and contributes to vertebral flexion and lateral flexion.
• The iliacus muscle arises from the iliac fossa and merges with the psoas major to form the iliopsoas, the primary hip flexor.
• Quadratus lumborum muscle stabilizes rib 12 and assists in trunk lateral flexion, attaching to the iliac crest and lumbar vertebrae.

Kidney Structure and Vascularization

• Renal vessels emerge at the L2 vertebral level and follow a horizontal path to the renal hilum, varying in length due to the positioning of the abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava.
• The order of renal tubular structures at the hilum is: renal vein (anterior), renal artery (middle), and renal pelvis (posterior).
• The kidneys are heavily vascular, receiving a rich blood supply necessary for their function.

Kidney Relations and Peritoneum

• The peritoneum is reflated around the kidneys, revealing their anterior relations to adjacent viscera like the duodenum and pancreas.
• Both kidneys have distinct sections where viscera are closely positioned to their hilum, with the right kidney interacting primarily with the duodenum and the left kidney with the pancreas.

Anatomical Plates

• Reference figures from Gray's Anatomy and Netter's Atlas provide visual representation of kidney structures, surrounding tissues, and muscle relationships.