Urinary

• Capsular veins

  The normal, distinct veins under the capsule of the cat's kidney
• Hilus

  The opening into the renal sinus where the ureter and renal vessels enter the kidney
• The urinary system includes the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra
• Kidneys

  • Functional organs of the urinary system that filter blood and produce urine
  • Located high in the abdomen's lumbar region at the level of the thoracolumbar junction
  • Retroperitoneal (behind the peritoneum) and against the crura of the diaphragm
• Right kidney

  The more cranial kidney by a half-kidney length
• Left kidney

  The more caudal kidney, except in the pig where both kidneys are at the same level
• Perirenal fat

  A mass of protective fat surrounding the kidney and holding it in place
• Fibrous capsule

  The loosely attached (except at the hilus) capsule of collagenous and some elastic fibers
• Adrenal glands

  • Paired glands located against the roof of the abdominal cavity at the thoracolumbar junction
  • Cranial to the kidneys, except in the horse where they are medial to the kidneys
  • Endocrine glands producing mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids, sex hormones, norepinephrine and epinephrine
• Kidney shapes

  • Bean-shaped and smooth (carnivores, small ruminants, pigs, horse's left kidney)
  • Heart-shaped and smooth (horse's right kidney)
  • Lobated (ox)
• Mobile kidneys

  The left kidney of the cat and ruminants hangs down into the abdominal cavity; thus, is not retroperitoneal
• Kidney locations

  • Right kidney cranial to left in all species, except pig
  • Cat's kidneys caudal to dog's
• Nephritis is inflammation of the kidneys
• Phrenicoabdominal vein

  Passes over the ventral surface of the adrenal gland, used to find the adrenal glands in surgery or at necropsy
• Cortex

  The outer layer of the kidney parenchyma beneath the capsule, characterized by light color and granular appearance
• Medulla

  The inner layer of the kidney parenchyma, characterized by striated appearance
• Renal crest

  The ridge resulting from complete fusion of the medullary pyramids, found in carnivores, small ruminants and horses
• Renal pelvis

  The expanded proximal end of the ureters in kidneys with a renal crest (carnivores, small ruminants and horses), and in the pig
• Calyx

  The cup-shaped structure receiving urine from individual papillae in the ox and pig
• Renal sinus

  The potential space occupied by the ureter, branches of the renal artery and vein, and lymphatics and nerves entering the kidney
• Renal hilus

  The opening into the renal sinus where the ureter and renal vessels enter the kidney
• Kidney structures

  • Cortex
  • Medulla
  • Papillae
  • Renal crest
  • Terminal recess
  • Calyces
  • Renal pelvis
  • Renal sinus
  • Renal hilus
• Smooth kidneys result from complete fusion of the kidney cortical tissue in carnivores, horse, pig and small ruminants
• The pig has a smooth kidney due to fused cortical tissue, but unfused medullary tissue, resulting in papillae
• The ox has a lobated kidney resulting from incomplete fusion of kidney lobes
• Terminal recesses

  The long tube-like extensions in the horse that collect and carry urine from the kidney poles to the small renal pelvis
• Glands in the wall of the horse's renal pelvis secrete mucous which gives the horse's urine a turbid (and foamy) appearance
• Patent (persistent) urachus connects the urinary bladder to the umbilicus and causes urine to dribble from the umbilicus
• Urinary calculi are abnormal concretions in any part of the urinary system
• Urolithiasis is the formation of urinary calculi
• Cystitis is inflammation of the urinary bladder
• Cystocentesis is tapping of the urinary bladder with a needle to remove urine
• Cystotomy is opening of the urinary bladder
• Fig. VII-14 Dog - Kidney
• cross section
• Fig. VII-15 - Dog - Cast of renal pelvis
• Patent (persistent) urachus

  Connects the urinary bladder to the umbilicus. It usually degenerates after birth. If patent, it causes urine to dribble from the umbilicus; and should be surgically removed.
• Urinary calculi (sin.=calculus)

  An abnormal concretion in any part of the urinary system (kidney pelvis, urinary bladder, urethra)
• Urolithiasis

  The formation of urinary calculi
• Cystitis

  Inflammation of the urinary bladder