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Questions and Answers
What is the primary structural distinction between the renal cortex and the renal medulla?
What is the primary structural distinction between the renal cortex and the renal medulla?
- The renal cortex is located medial to the renal medulla.
- The renal cortex contains renal pyramids, while the renal medulla does not.
- The renal cortex is granular in appearance, while the renal medulla contains cone-shaped structures. (correct)
- The renal cortex is filled with fat, while the renal medulla is mainly connective tissue.
How do minor calices contribute to the formation of major calices in the kidney?
How do minor calices contribute to the formation of major calices in the kidney?
- Five to six minor calices merge to form a major calyx.
- Three to four minor calices combine to form a major calyx. (correct)
- Minor calices are absent in the renal structure.
- Each minor calyx is individually capped by a renal papilla.
What directly follows the renal pelvis as it exits the kidney?
What directly follows the renal pelvis as it exits the kidney?
- The renal sinus
- The ureter (correct)
- The bladder
- The renal cortex
What is the primary function of the renal fascia?
What is the primary function of the renal fascia?
Where do the renal columns extend from and to within the kidney?
Where do the renal columns extend from and to within the kidney?
Which structure directly connects the ureter to the bladder?
Which structure directly connects the ureter to the bladder?
In which anatomical region does the ureter make a sharp bend during its descent?
In which anatomical region does the ureter make a sharp bend during its descent?
What role do renal papillae play in kidney anatomy?
What role do renal papillae play in kidney anatomy?
What is a consequence of obstruction in a segmental branch of a renal artery?
What is a consequence of obstruction in a segmental branch of a renal artery?
In what percentage of individuals do accessory renal arteries arise from the abdominal aorta?
In what percentage of individuals do accessory renal arteries arise from the abdominal aorta?
Why is transplantation of the kidney into the pelvis necessary for the survival of the ureter?
Why is transplantation of the kidney into the pelvis necessary for the survival of the ureter?
What happens to the distal ureter after kidney transplantation?
What happens to the distal ureter after kidney transplantation?
Which statement accurately describes the anastomosis of renal arteries?
Which statement accurately describes the anastomosis of renal arteries?
What is the primary function of the renal fascia regarding the perinephric space?
What is the primary function of the renal fascia regarding the perinephric space?
What anatomical structure separates the suprarenal gland from the kidney?
What anatomical structure separates the suprarenal gland from the kidney?
What is the defining characteristic of perirenal fat?
What is the defining characteristic of perirenal fat?
How do the right and left perinephric spaces interact with each other?
How do the right and left perinephric spaces interact with each other?
What is pararenal fat classified as?
What is pararenal fat classified as?
Which of the following structures is contained within the perinephric space?
Which of the following structures is contained within the perinephric space?
What is the clinical significance of the fascial septum between the kidney and suprarenal gland?
What is the clinical significance of the fascial septum between the kidney and suprarenal gland?
What does the renal fascia prevent during instances of infection or hemorrhaging?
What does the renal fascia prevent during instances of infection or hemorrhaging?
Which of the following structures does NOT typically reside within the perinephric space?
Which of the following structures does NOT typically reside within the perinephric space?
What is a characteristic role of the renal fascia during surgical procedures?
What is a characteristic role of the renal fascia during surgical procedures?
What is the consequence of an obstruction in a segmental artery supplying a kidney lobe?
What is the consequence of an obstruction in a segmental artery supplying a kidney lobe?
In which way do the left and right renal veins differ in their drainage paths?
In which way do the left and right renal veins differ in their drainage paths?
Which features describe the tributaries of the left renal vein?
Which features describe the tributaries of the left renal vein?
What anatomical structure do the ureters primarily cross anteriorly in the pelvis?
What anatomical structure do the ureters primarily cross anteriorly in the pelvis?
Where do the lymphatic vessels from the kidneys and suprarenal glands drain?
Where do the lymphatic vessels from the kidneys and suprarenal glands drain?
What is the primary function of the renal veins?
What is the primary function of the renal veins?
Which artery does the left ureter cross anteriorly?
Which artery does the left ureter cross anteriorly?
What common medical condition is associated with constriction sites in the ureter?
What common medical condition is associated with constriction sites in the ureter?
What is the main drainage route for the left suprarenal vein?
What is the main drainage route for the left suprarenal vein?
Which fibers provide innervation to the suprarenal cortex?
Which fibers provide innervation to the suprarenal cortex?
Which description is accurate regarding the right renal vein?
Which description is accurate regarding the right renal vein?
What role do the extraperitoneal structures play in the anatomy of the ureters?
What role do the extraperitoneal structures play in the anatomy of the ureters?
How does the right suprarenal vein differ from the left suprarenal vein in terms of drainage?
How does the right suprarenal vein differ from the left suprarenal vein in terms of drainage?
What type of cells in the suprarenal medulla are primarily responsible for hormone release?
What type of cells in the suprarenal medulla are primarily responsible for hormone release?
What is a characteristic feature of a horseshoe kidney?
What is a characteristic feature of a horseshoe kidney?
What is not well understood regarding the suprarenal glands?
What is not well understood regarding the suprarenal glands?
What can result from the failure of embryologic development of the kidney?
What can result from the failure of embryologic development of the kidney?
Which anatomical feature can hold up the ascent of ascending kidneys during development?
Which anatomical feature can hold up the ascent of ascending kidneys during development?
What neurotransmitters are released from chromaffin cells in the suprarenal medulla?
What neurotransmitters are released from chromaffin cells in the suprarenal medulla?
What is the primary role of preganglionic sympathetic fibers in relation to the suprarenal glands?
What is the primary role of preganglionic sympathetic fibers in relation to the suprarenal glands?
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Study Notes
Kidney Anatomy
- The kidney is a bean-shaped organ with an indentation called the hilum where blood vessels, nerves, and the ureter enter and exit.
- The kidney is encased by a fibrous capsule, and has an inner renal medulla and an outer renal cortex.
- The renal medulla consists of cone-shaped renal pyramids with their apices called renal papillae, which extend into the renal sinus.
- The renal cortex is a granular tissue and contains the renal columns that extend inward between the renal pyramids.
- The renal pelvis is a funnel-shaped structure that receives urine from the renal calices and connects to the ureter.
- Minor calices extend into the renal sinus and cap each renal papilla, while major calices are formed by the merging of several minor calices.
- The ureter carries urine from the kidney to the urinary bladder.
Renal Fascia and Fat Tissue Layers
- Each kidney is enclosed within a connective tissue layer called the renal fascia, which merges with the adventitia of the renal vessels and surrounds the kidney, ureter, and suprarenal gland.
- The renal fascia forms a space called the perinephric space, which contains the kidney, ureter, suprarenal gland, and perirenal fat, a layer adipose tissue.
- Perirenal fat is continuous with the fat within the renal sinus.
- Pararenal fat is located external to the renal fascia, covered by parietal peritoneum and transversalis fascia.
Blood Supply
- The kidney receives blood from a single renal artery, which branches from the abdominal aorta.
- The renal artery branches into segmental arteries, which are terminal, meaning they don’t anastomose with each other.
- The renal vein courses anterior to the renal artery and drains into the inferior vena cava.
- The right renal vein is shorter than the left renal vein.
- The left renal vein passes posterior to the body of the pancreas and inferior to the superior mesenteric artery before draining into the inferior vena cava.
Ureter
- The ureter is a muscular tube that extends from the renal pelvis to the urinary bladder.
- The ureter has three internal constriction sites where kidney stones can get lodged.
Suprarenal Gland
- The suprarenal glands (adrenal glands) are located superior to the kidneys and have a cortex and medulla.
- The left suprarenal vein drains into the left renal vein, while the right suprarenal vein drains directly into the inferior vena cava.
Innervation
- The suprarenal cortex is innervated by post-ganglionic sympathetic fibers from the celiac ganglion, driven by preganglionic fibers from the greater splanchnic nerve.
- The suprarenal medulla receives direct input from preganglionic sympathetic fibers from the greater splanchnic nerve, which synapse directly on chromaffin cells.
Clinical Relevance
- A horseshoe kidney is a condition where the two kidneys fuse at the midline during development.
- An ectopic kidney is a kidney that fails to ascend to its normal position and remains in the pelvis.
- Renal artery stenosis is the narrowing of a renal artery, leading to renal infarction and necrosis.
- Kidney transplantation involves transplanting a donated kidney into the pelvic region of the recipient.
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