Anatomy Exam Gross Anatomy of the Kidney 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which surface of the kidney faces the vertebral column?
- Anterior surface
- Posterior surface (Correct answer)
- Medial surface
- Lateral surface
Correct answer: Posterior surface
The posterior surface of the kidney faces the posterior abdominal wall and vertebral column.
Question 2: The renal hilum is located on which aspect of the kidney?
- Lateral border
- Superior pole
- Medial border (Correct answer)
- Posterior surface
Correct answer: Medial border
The renal hilum is a vertical slit on the medial border through which vessels, nerves, and the ureter pass.
Question 3: What is the correct order of structures within the renal hilum from anterior to posterior?
- Vein, artery, pelvis (Correct answer)
- Artery, vein, pelvis
- Pelvis, artery, vein
- Vein, pelvis, artery
Correct answer: Vein, artery, pelvis
From anterior to posterior within the hilum, the order is renal vein, renal artery, and renal pelvis (VAP).
Question 4: Which vertebral levels correspond to the renal arteries' origin from the aorta?
- T10–T11
- L1–L2 (Correct answer)
- L2–L3
- T12–L1
Correct answer: L1–L2
The renal arteries arise from the lateral aspect of the abdominal aorta at vertebral levels L1–L2.
Question 5: Which structure lies immediately anterior to the left kidney?
- Liver
- Stomach (Correct answer)
- Ascending colon
- Duodenum
Correct answer: Stomach
The stomach lies directly anterior to the upper portion of the left kidney.
Question 6: The renal fascia (Gerota's fascia) is derived from which tissue?
- Peritoneum
- Transversalis fascia (Correct answer)
- Subcutaneous fat
- Endopelvic fascia
Correct answer: Transversalis fascia
Gerota's fascia is a condensation of the transversalis (extraperitoneal) fascia that surrounds the kidney and suprarenal gland.
Question 7: A renal carcinoma spreading within Gerota's fascia most likely involves which adjacent gland?
- Thyroid gland
- Suprarenal (adrenal) gland (Correct answer)
- Parathyroid gland
- Parotid gland
Correct answer: Suprarenal (adrenal) gland
The suprarenal gland shares Gerota's fascia with the kidney, so tumors within this compartment can spread to the adrenal gland.
Anatomy Exam Gross Anatomy of the Kidney 2
Which surface of the kidney faces the vertebral column?