Module 11
Kidney Anatomy
• Kidneys are kidney-bean shaped organs
• Located just above the waist on the posterior wall of the abdominal kidney
• Because the liver takes up so much room in the right upper abdominal cavity, the
right kidney sits slightly
lower than the left
Kidney Anatomy
• Renal Cortex
• Superficial, light red area of the internal kidney
• Renal Medulla
• Renal Cortex
• Superficial, light red area of the internal kidney
• Renal Medulla
• Deep to the renal cortex
• Consists of several cone shaped renal pyramids
• Renal Columns
• Portions of the renal cortex that extend between the renal pyramids
• Nephrons
• Filtering units of the kidney
• About one million per kidney
Kidney Anatomy
• Urine formed from the nephrons drains into large papillary ducts
• Papillary ducts drain into the minor and major calyces
• From the major calyces, urine drains into the renal pelvis, through the ureter and into the
urinary bladder
Acute Renal Failure
• Prerenal
• Inadequate oxygen perfusion to the kidneys
• Causes include blood loss, heart disease, chronic liver disease
• Postrenal
• Obstructions
• Enlarged prostate, kidney stones in both ureters, neurogenic bladder
Bilateral kidney stones on abdominal X-ray
Acute Renal Failure: Symptoms
• Symptoms vary depending on cause but may include:
• Edema: retention of fluid in the tissues
• Oliguria: decreased urine output
• Hypertension: increased blood pressure due to sodium and water retention
Acute Renal Failure: Testing
• Urinalysis: Kidney tubules are damaged and lose the ability to perform the functions of
filtration, reabsorption,
and secretion
• RBCs, Protein, and casts found in the urine
Urine sample. Red color indicates blood in the urine (hematuria)
