AnatomyLesson 2 of 4 in the course The Urinary System

Kidney Anatomy: Position, Internal Regions, Blood Supply, and Nephrons

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

This lesson introduces where the kidneys are located, how their external coverings protect and anchor them, and how their major internal regions are organized.

The kidneys lie on either side of the spine in the retroperitoneal space—behind the parietal peritoneum and against the posterior abdominal wall. Muscle, fat, and the lower ribs help protect them. At rest, the kidneys receive about 25 percent of cardiac output, reflecting their rich blood supply.

All flashcards

Where are the kidneys located?
They lie on either side of the spine in the retroperitoneal space, against the posterior abdominal wall.
What are the kidney’s three protective coverings, from inner to outer?
The fibrous renal capsule, renal fat pad, and renal fascia.
What structures form a renal lobe?
A renal pyramid and its associated renal columns.
What is the renal corpuscle?
The glomerulus together with Bowman’s capsule.
How do cortical and juxtamedullary nephrons differ?
Cortical nephrons have short loops of Henle; juxtamedullary nephrons have long loops extending deep into the medulla.

Quiz questions

  1. At the renal hilum, what is the anterior-to-posterior order of the renal artery, renal vein, and renal pelvis?Answer: Renal artery, renal vein, renal pelvis
  2. Which sequence carries arterial blood from the renal artery toward the afferent arterioles?Answer: Segmental, interlobar, arcuate, cortical radiate arteries
  3. Which arrangement characterizes the kidney’s two capillary beds?Answer: An efferent arteriole connects the glomerulus to a second capillary network.
  4. Where are all renal corpuscles located?Answer: In the renal cortex
  5. About what proportion of nephrons are juxtamedullary nephrons?Answer: About 15 percent

Based on Anatomy and Physiology 2e by J. Gordon Betts, Kelly A. Young, James A. Wise, Eddie Johnson, Brandon Poe, Dean H. Kruse, Oksana Korol, Jody E. Johnson, Mark Womble, Peter DeSaix (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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