Renal Anatomy

T12 to L3

Left kidney because of the liver on the right-hand side

Longitudinal depressions on either side of the vertebral column

Sites for draining abscesses, paravertebral blocks and biopsies

Sympathetic chain; Aorta and para-aortic structures; Lymphatic vessels; Thoracic duct

Where the 12th rib meets the lateral border of the erector spinae muscle

Landmark for assessing renal tenderness and surgical access

When they are enlarged

11th and 12th ribs

Pouch between the liver and the right kidney; A site where fluid can accumulate

Pararenal fat; Renal fascia - Zuckerkandl's fascia and Gerota's fascia; Perirenal fat; Renal capsule

Protects the kidney from trauma and infection

Cushions and insulates the kidneys

Anchors the kidney; Limits the spread of infection and haemorrhage

Compartmentalises the perirenal space

Posterior renal fascia that fuses with the fascia covering the psoas and quadratus lumborum muscles

Funnel-shaped structure that collects urine from the kidney's calyces before it drains into the ureter

Entry and exit point for renal blood vessels, nerves and the ureter

Allows communication between the kidney and the rest of the body

Glomeruli; Renal tubules

Renal tubules; Renal pyramids

Filters blood

Right renal artery because the aorta is left of the midline

Renal artery → segmental arteries → interlobar arteries → arcuate arteries → interlobular arteries

Inferior vena cava

Right renal vein because the IVC is right of the midline

Left gonadal vein; Left adrenal vein; Sometimes lumbar veins

Superior / Apical; Inferior / Caudal; Upper anterior; Middle anterior; Posterior

Compression of the left renal vein between the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery

T10-T11

T12

L1-L2

Causes vasoconstriction of renal vessels, reducing blood flow during stress or shock

Vagus nerve

Flank; Lower back; Groin

Pressure from bleeding; Inflammation; Irritated nerves

Trauma can cause bleeding into the urinary tract

Abdominal part; Pelvic part; Intramural part

The ureter begins at the renal pelvis, descends retroperitoneally over the psoas major muscle, crosses the pelvic brim near the bifurcation of the common iliac artery, travels through the pelvis and enters the bladder.

Where the renal pelvis narrows to become the ureter

Where the ureter crosses the iliac vessels, usually near the bifurcation of the common iliac artery

Where the ureter meets the bladder

Vas deferens in males; Uterine artery in females

Through visceral sensory nerves that travel with autonomic nerves

Referred to areas sharing the same spinal segments

Renal artery; Gonadal artery

Renal plexus and associated sympathetic fibres

Lower abdomen

Flank or loin

Groin, scrotum or labia majora

Abdominal aorta; Common iliac artery

Pelvic plexus and associated autonomic nerves

Branches of the internal iliac artery

Upper ureter drains into renal veins; Middle ureter drains into gonadal and iliac veins; Lower ureter drains into internal iliac vein tributaries

Stores urine before it is expelled from the body

400-600 ml of urine

In the pelvis behind the pubic symphysis

Median and medial umbilical ligaments; Lateral and posterior ligaments; Pubovesical ligaments in females and puboprostatic ligaments in males

Triangular area inside the bladder

Two ureteric orifices and one internal urethral orifice

Ureters enter the bladder posteriorly

Muscular tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body

Allows urine to exit the body during urination; Also carries semen in males

Begins at the bladder neck and ends at the external urethral orifice

Prostatic; Membranous; Spongy

Males about 16-20 cm; Females about 3-5 cm

Smooth involuntary muscle

Relaxes during urination to allow urine to pass through

Skeletal voluntary muscle

Consciously controlled to hold urine in

Hypogastric nerves from the superior and inferior hypogastric plexuses

Drains into the vesical and prostatic venous plexuses, then into the internal iliac veins

Compresses the urethra, causing difficulty emptying the bladder and potentially overflow incontinence

Women due to shorter urethras than males