Anatomy and embryology of the
kidney/urinary tract
corresponding vertebrae with kidney location - correct answer-T12 to L3
*renal hilum, L2*
*(renal vein, artery, pelvis)
*anterior -> -> -> posterior
renal papilla (urine is released from collecting ducts) - correct answer-lies in ONE minor
calyx
2-3 minor calices = major calyx => renal pelvis
renal medula, cortex and renal columns on CT - correct answer-*cortex brightest due to high
blood flow to area + contrast
*renal cortex receives 90% of RBF
Components of renal corpuscle - correct answer-Bowman's capsule: cup-like sac (B) at the
proximal end of a nephron invaginated by ->
Glomerulus: tuft of capillaries (A)
nephron anatomy summary - correct answer-
Structures of cortex and medulla - correct answer-Cortex: glomeruli, blood vessels, and all
parts of the renal tubules except for the loops of Henle
Medulla: loops of Henle and vasa rectae
path of urine from collecting duct - correct answer-collecting ducts -> calyces (minor ->
major) -> renal pelvis -> ureter -> bladder
in addition to urine production, key functions of the kidney - correct answer-regulating blood
pressure,
the composition of body fluids,
acid-base balance
Separation of kidney units by function - correct answer-• Nephrons = the excretory units of
the kidneys
• Collecting system = ducts and ureters
• Urinary bladder and urethra
kidney and gonades develop from which embryonic layer? - correct answer-intermediate
mesoderm
"urogenital ridge"
, *kidneys from 'nephrogenic cord'*
mesonephric duct and tubules are shared with the developing ______ - correct
answer-gonads and urinary system
mesonephric duct -> ureteric bud -> ureters to collecting duct
*mesonephric duct becomes sperm carrying tubes of male reproductive system*
*vestigal in females
Pronephros - correct answer-i. Tubules (nephrons) form at 4 weeks in cervical region, 1 per
body segment
ii. Degenerates
iii. Pronephric duct extends to cloaca (common sac at the ends of
the genitourinary and intestinal tracts)
iv. Pronephric duct becomes mesonephric duct
Mesonephros - correct answer-i. Appears late in 4th week
ii. Forms interim kidney - functions from *5th - 10th* weeks
iii. S-shaped mesonephric tubules, 3-4 per body segment
1. One end becomes Bowman's capsule around a tuft of
capillaries (glomerulus)
2. Other end taps into the mesonephric duct
3. Mesonephric (Wolffian) duct becomes sperm-carrying
tubes of the male reproductive system; mesonephric duct system is vestigial in females
4. Cranial tubules degenerate as new tubules form
Metanephros - correct answer-i. Appears early in 5th
week
ii. Forms definitive kidney
iii. ~ 1-3 million tubules
wastes are cleared by the _____ in the fetus, and urine passes into the _____ - correct
answer-placenta
amniotic cavity (swallowed by fetus -> absorbed in intestines -> from blood back to placenta)
Origin of definitive kidney - correct answer-excretory (nephrons) = metanephros
collecting (tubules/ducts) = ureteric bud
the _______ cord portion of the metanephros develops in the pelvis, and the _____ ___
develops from the mesonephric ducts into the metanephric mesenchyme and gives rise to
WHICH STUCTURES? - correct answer-nephrogenic
uretic bud
*ureter
*renal pelvis
kidney/urinary tract
corresponding vertebrae with kidney location - correct answer-T12 to L3
*renal hilum, L2*
*(renal vein, artery, pelvis)
*anterior -> -> -> posterior
renal papilla (urine is released from collecting ducts) - correct answer-lies in ONE minor
calyx
2-3 minor calices = major calyx => renal pelvis
renal medula, cortex and renal columns on CT - correct answer-*cortex brightest due to high
blood flow to area + contrast
*renal cortex receives 90% of RBF
Components of renal corpuscle - correct answer-Bowman's capsule: cup-like sac (B) at the
proximal end of a nephron invaginated by ->
Glomerulus: tuft of capillaries (A)
nephron anatomy summary - correct answer-
Structures of cortex and medulla - correct answer-Cortex: glomeruli, blood vessels, and all
parts of the renal tubules except for the loops of Henle
Medulla: loops of Henle and vasa rectae
path of urine from collecting duct - correct answer-collecting ducts -> calyces (minor ->
major) -> renal pelvis -> ureter -> bladder
in addition to urine production, key functions of the kidney - correct answer-regulating blood
pressure,
the composition of body fluids,
acid-base balance
Separation of kidney units by function - correct answer-• Nephrons = the excretory units of
the kidneys
• Collecting system = ducts and ureters
• Urinary bladder and urethra
kidney and gonades develop from which embryonic layer? - correct answer-intermediate
mesoderm
"urogenital ridge"
, *kidneys from 'nephrogenic cord'*
mesonephric duct and tubules are shared with the developing ______ - correct
answer-gonads and urinary system
mesonephric duct -> ureteric bud -> ureters to collecting duct
*mesonephric duct becomes sperm carrying tubes of male reproductive system*
*vestigal in females
Pronephros - correct answer-i. Tubules (nephrons) form at 4 weeks in cervical region, 1 per
body segment
ii. Degenerates
iii. Pronephric duct extends to cloaca (common sac at the ends of
the genitourinary and intestinal tracts)
iv. Pronephric duct becomes mesonephric duct
Mesonephros - correct answer-i. Appears late in 4th week
ii. Forms interim kidney - functions from *5th - 10th* weeks
iii. S-shaped mesonephric tubules, 3-4 per body segment
1. One end becomes Bowman's capsule around a tuft of
capillaries (glomerulus)
2. Other end taps into the mesonephric duct
3. Mesonephric (Wolffian) duct becomes sperm-carrying
tubes of the male reproductive system; mesonephric duct system is vestigial in females
4. Cranial tubules degenerate as new tubules form
Metanephros - correct answer-i. Appears early in 5th
week
ii. Forms definitive kidney
iii. ~ 1-3 million tubules
wastes are cleared by the _____ in the fetus, and urine passes into the _____ - correct
answer-placenta
amniotic cavity (swallowed by fetus -> absorbed in intestines -> from blood back to placenta)
Origin of definitive kidney - correct answer-excretory (nephrons) = metanephros
collecting (tubules/ducts) = ureteric bud
the _______ cord portion of the metanephros develops in the pelvis, and the _____ ___
develops from the mesonephric ducts into the metanephric mesenchyme and gives rise to
WHICH STUCTURES? - correct answer-nephrogenic
uretic bud
*ureter
*renal pelvis
