Anatomy Exam Gross Anatomy of the Kidney 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which muscle forms the floor of the renal bed posteriorly?
- Quadratus lumborum (Correct answer)
- Psoas major
- Iliacus
- Transversus abdominis
Correct answer: Quadratus lumborum
The quadratus lumborum muscle forms a large part of the posterior renal bed and is in direct contact with the posterior kidney.
Question 2: The peritoneum covers which surface of the kidney?
- Posterior surface
- Anterior surface (Correct answer)
- Both surfaces equally
- Neither surface
Correct answer: Anterior surface
The kidneys are retroperitoneal, so only their anterior surfaces are partially covered by peritoneum.
Question 3: During a nephrectomy, the surgeon ligates the renal pedicle. What is the correct order of structures ligated from superficial to deep (anterior to posterior)?
- Ureter, vein, artery
- Artery, vein, ureter
- Vein, artery, ureter (Correct answer)
- Ureter, artery, vein
Correct answer: Vein, artery, ureter
In the renal hilum from anterior to posterior the order is vein, artery, ureter; the vein is thus ligated first.
Question 4: Cortical nephrons differ from juxtamedullary nephrons primarily in the length of their:
- Proximal convoluted tubule
- Bowman's capsule
- Loop of Henle (Correct answer)
- Collecting duct
Correct answer: Loop of Henle
Juxtamedullary nephrons have long loops of Henle that extend deep into the medulla, while cortical nephrons have short loops.
Question 5: Which vessel runs within the renal columns between pyramids?
- Arcuate artery
- Interlobar artery (Correct answer)
- Afferent arteriole
- Segmental artery
Correct answer: Interlobar artery
Interlobar arteries course within the renal columns (columns of Bertin) between adjacent pyramids toward the corticomedullary junction.
Question 6: At the corticomedullary junction, interlobar arteries give rise to:
- Segmental arteries
- Arcuate arteries (Correct answer)
- Interlobular arteries
- Glomerular capillaries
Correct answer: Arcuate arteries
Interlobar arteries bifurcate at the corticomedullary junction to form arcuate arteries, which arch along that boundary.
Question 7: A renal stone lodged at the ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) is located where relative to the kidney?
- Within the renal sinus
- At the junction of the renal pelvis and ureter (Correct answer)
- Within the minor calyx
- At the vesicoureteric junction
Correct answer: At the junction of the renal pelvis and ureter
The UPJ is the narrow transition point where the funnel-shaped renal pelvis narrows to become the ureter, a common site for stone impaction.
Anatomy Exam Gross Anatomy of the Kidney 5
Which muscle forms the floor of the renal bed posteriorly?