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Questions and Answers
What is the average length of a normal kidney in adults?
What is the average length of a normal kidney in adults?
Which structure separates the renal pyramids in the medulla?
Which structure separates the renal pyramids in the medulla?
How many renal pyramids are typically found in the renal medulla?
How many renal pyramids are typically found in the renal medulla?
What is the shape of the kidney?
What is the shape of the kidney?
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Where are the kidneys located in relation to the vertebral column?
Where are the kidneys located in relation to the vertebral column?
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What is the length of the ureters?
What is the length of the ureters?
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Which part of the ureter is located from the renal pelvis to the pelvic brim?
Which part of the ureter is located from the renal pelvis to the pelvic brim?
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What is the shape of the urinary bladder?
What is the shape of the urinary bladder?
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Which region sits at the base of the bladder between the ureter inlets and the urethral opening?
Which region sits at the base of the bladder between the ureter inlets and the urethral opening?
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What type of muscle primarily composes the wall of the bladder?
What type of muscle primarily composes the wall of the bladder?
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Study Notes
The Kidney
- Paired retroperitoneal structures
- Located on either side of the vertebral column, between T12-L3 vertebrae
- Right kidney positioned 2 cm lower than the left due to the right hepatic lobe
- Kidney's long axis is directed downward and laterally, parallel to the psoas muscle
- Upper poles are more medial and posterior than lower poles
- Adult kidney size: 9-15 cm long, 3-5 cm wide in males
- Left kidney is usually slightly larger than the right (not exceeding 1.5 cm)
- Bean-shaped
- Two poles (superior, inferior)
- Anterior and posterior surfaces, medial and lateral borders
- Surrounded by perirenal fat
- Covered by outer fibrous capsule
Kidney Structure
- Renal parenchyma consists of renal cortex and medulla
- Renal sinus contains renal pelvis, calyces, renal vessels, nerves, lymphatics, and perirenal fat
- Renal cortex is 2.5 cm thick, containing glomeruli and renal tubules
- Renal medulla is comprised of 10-14 renal pyramids
- Renal pyramids have bases to the periphery, conical tips towards the renal hilum (papillae)
- Renal columns separate the pyramids
- Renal lobe consists of renal pyramid, overlying renal cortex and adjacent renal columns
- Collecting system (calyces)
- Medulla in fornix of minor calyx (sharp and concave)
- Papillae drain into minor calyces
- Minor calyces coalesce to form 3-4 major calyces
- Major calyces form renal pelvis
- Renal pelvis is a broad, dilated portion within the renal hilum
- Can be intrarenal or partially/entirely extrarenal
- Drains into the ureter
Ureters
- 25-30 cm long
- Three parts: abdominal, pelvic, intravesical/intramural
- 3 mm diameter
- Narrowing sites (most common calculus obstruction): pelviureteric junction (PUJ), ureter entering pelvis (crossing common iliac artery bifurcation), vesicoureteric junction (VUJ) (oblique entry to bladder wall)
Urinary Bladder
- Pelvic, extraperitoneal site
- Pyramidal shape, base posteriorly
- Four surfaces: superior, inferolateral, and posterior-inferior
- Features:
- Apex (superior surface), connected to umbilicus by median umbilical ligament (urachus remnant)
- Fundus (base, posteroinferior surface), triangular, tip pointing posteriorly
- Neck: confluence of fundus and inferolateral surfaces (2-3 cm funnel-shaped extension into urethra)
- Trigone region sits at bladder base between ureteral and urethral openings
Male Urethra
- 15-20 cm long
- Three parts:
- Posterior urethra: prostatic and membranous
- Anterior urethra: bulbous and penile
- Parts of prostatic urethra contain ejaculatory duct orifices
- Membranous urethra is the shortest and contains external urethral sphincter
- Bulbous urethra traverses penis root, and Cowper's glands open into it
- Penile urethra extends to glans penis, with a fossa navicularis dilation
Female Urethra
- Much shorter than male urethra (~4cm)
- Not divided into segments
- Contains Skene's glands, homologous to male prostate, secreting mucus into urethra
Radiological Anatomy
- Kidney shadows easily identified due to perirenal fat
- Kidney length is ~3-4 lumbar vertebrae
- Kidneys move with respiration
- Ureters not normally visualized; radiopaque calculi can be located
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Description
Test your knowledge on the structure and anatomy of the kidneys. This quiz covers aspects such as locations, sizes, and the components of renal parenchyma. Perfect for students studying human anatomy and physiology.
