| Features of kidneys | Bean shaped organs
L3-T11/T12
Retroperitoneal
Lie on the posterior abdominal wall
Right kidney is slightly lower than the left kidney --> due to liver |
| What muscles lie posterior to the kidney | Psoas is medial to the kidney
Quadratus lumborum is posterior to the kidney / also contains the thoracocolumnar fascia
Transversus abdominis is anterior to the kidney |
| What are the 3 regions of the ureter where kidney stones commonly lodge | At the junction between the renal pelvis and ureter
Where the ureter crosses the pelvic brim
Where the ureter passes into the bladder |
| Where is the renal artery located anatomically | Inferior to the superior mesenteric artery
Posterior to the renal vein |
| What is nutcracker syndrome | This is entrapment of the left renal vein between the abdominal aorta and superior mesenteric artery |
| What shape is the bladder when empty and full | Empty --> tetrahedron shape and in the true pelvic cavity
Full --> Spherical and can reach as high as the umbilicus |
| Advantages and Disadvantages of Radiography | Advantages : Useful for radio-opaque stones and Cheap
Disadvantages : Use of ionising radiation, Poor resolution and Limited use for imaging the urinary system |
| Advantages and Disadvantages of urogram | Advantages : Useful for checking the normal function of kidneys, Cheap and Particularly useful in resource limited settings.
Disadvantages : Contrast medium is injected into a vein and Series of X rays required |
| Advantages and Disadvantages of CT scans | Advantages : Creates 3D axial ‘slices’ of the body and Can be used without contrast or with contrast
Disadvantages : High dose X-ray (Ionising radiation) beam moves around the body in a circle and is more costly than X ray. |
| Advantages and Disadvantages of MRI scans | Advantages : Excellent resolution and Good evaluation of soft tissue
Disadvantages : Noisy. Time-consuming, Expensive, Patient has to remain still for a prolonged amount of time, Image contrast determined by tissue density. |
| Advantages and Disadvantages of ultrasounds | Advantages : Can be used to quickly evaluate the size and shape of the kidneys and also uses high frequency sound waves with a good resolution
Disadvantages : Operator dependant |
