60 Questions
What is the primary function of the fibrous capsule?
To maintain the kidney's shape and protect it from trauma and pathogens
What is the primary function of the perinephric fat?
To provide cushioning and stabilization for the kidney
What is the primary function of the renal fascia?
To anchor the kidney to surrounding structures
What is the primary function of the paranephric fat?
To provide cushioning and stabilization for the kidney
What condition can result from the loss of adipose connective tissue in very thin elderly individuals or individuals with anorexia nervosa?
Renal ptosis
What condition can result from renal ptosis?
Hydronephrosis
Which of the following is the most common anatomic variation of the kidney?
Horseshoe kidney
What is the outcome of bilateral renal agenesis?
Invariably fatal
What is the cause of a pelvic kidney?
Failure of the developing kidney to migrate from the pelvic cavity to the abdominal cavity
What is the significance of supernumerary kidneys?
They are rare and usually have no clinical significance
What is the purpose of the autonomic innervation of the kidney?
To regulate the function of the kidney
What is the most common way in which individuals discover anatomic variations in their kidneys?
When they have a health issue unrelated to the kidneys
What is the approximate length of each kidney?
12 centimeters (4.7 inches)
What is the shape of the kidneys?
Bean-shaped
What is the approximate weight of each kidney?
100 grams
What is the concave medial border of the kidney called?
Hilum
Where are the kidneys located in relation to the abdominal wall?
Posterior to the abdominal wall
What structure rests on the superior aspect of each kidney?
Adrenal gland
Which of the following statements about the position of the kidneys is correct?
The left kidney is positioned higher than the right kidney.
Which of the following statements about the protection of the kidneys is true?
Both kidneys are partially protected by the rib cage.
What is the term used to describe the position of the kidneys relative to the parietal peritoneum?
Retroperitoneal
Which of the following tissue layers is directly adhered to the external surface of the kidney?
Fibrous capsule
Which of the following tissue layers is the outermost layer surrounding the kidney?
Paranephric fat
Which of the following views is typically used in computed tomography (CT) scans to visualize the kidneys?
Inferior cross-sectional view
What is the term for the buildup of urine in the kidney and resulting swelling?
Hydronephrosis
What may occur if the cause of hydronephrosis is not treated?
Renal failure
What is the name of the fibrous capsule that directly adheres to the kidney, and what are its functions?
Renal capsule; protects the kidney and holds it in place
What are the two distinct regions of the kidney's parenchyma?
Renal cortex and renal medulla
What is the relationship among minor calyces, major calyces, and the renal pelvis?
Minor calyces drain into major calyces, which drain into the renal pelvis
What is the term used to describe the wide base of a renal pyramid where it meets the cortex?
Corticomedullary junction
What is the approximate length of each kidney?
12 centimeters (4.7 inches)
What is the concave medial border of the kidney called?
Hilum
What structure rests on the superior aspect of each kidney?
Adrenal gland
What is the term used to describe the position of the kidneys relative to the parietal peritoneum?
Retroperitoneal
What is the shape of the kidneys?
Bean-shaped
Which of the following tissue layers is the outermost layer surrounding the kidney?
Renal fascia
Where are the kidneys positioned in relation to the parietal peritoneum?
Posterior to the parietal peritoneum
What is the primary function of the fibrous capsule?
Directly adhere to the external surface of the kidney
Which layer surrounds the kidney immediately after the fibrous capsule from innermost to outermost?
Perinephric fat
What makes the kidneys vulnerable to forceful blows to the back?
Partial protection by the rib cage
Where is the right kidney located in relation to the left kidney?
Inferior
Which tissue layer is closest to the kidney's external surface?
Renal fascia
What is the medical term for the medially directed apex of the renal pyramid?
Renal papilla
Which renal structure serves as the urine drainage area within the kidney?
Renal pelvis
What is the result of renal agenesis in which one kidney fails to develop?
Unilateral renal agenesis
Which of the following structures merges with the ureter at the medial edge of the kidney?
Renal pelvis
What do several minor calyces merge to form within the kidney?
Major calyx
Where are the renal arteries, renal veins, and lymph vessels housed within the kidney?
Renal sinus
What is the outcome of unilateral renal agenesis?
It is often asymptomatic
Which anatomic variation of the kidney is fairly common and occurs in about 1 per 600 births?
Horseshoe kidney
What is a pelvic kidney?
A kidney that fails to migrate from the pelvic cavity
What characterizes supernumerary kidneys?
They have no clinical significance
What occurs when the inferior parts of the left and right kidneys fuse as they ascend into the abdominal cavity?
Horseshoe kidney development
What would an individual typically discover when seeing a physician regarding an unrelated health issue?
Anatomic variations in kidney structure or number
What are the two distinct regions of the kidney's parenchyma?
Renal cortex and renal medulla
What is the structure that subdivides the renal medulla into renal pyramids?
Renal columns
Where does the corticomedullary junction occur in the kidney?
Between the renal cortex and renal medulla
What is the term for the area where urine drainage occurs in the kidney?
Renal hilum
What happens if hydronephrosis, left untreated, leads to renal failure?
Pyelonephritis
What is the term used for the spaces within the renal medulla where urine collects before entering the ureters?
Calyces
Learn about the symmetrical, bean-shaped structure of the kidneys, their size, weight, and features such as the hilum. Explore the gross anatomy of the kidneys in detail.
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