Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-cfpbc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-18T23:03:31.259Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

19 - Genito-Urinary System

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 February 2010

Enid Gilbert-Barness
Affiliation:
University of South Florida and University of Wisconsin Medical School
Diane Debich-Spicer
Affiliation:
University of South Florida
John M. Opitz
Affiliation:
University of Utah
Get access

Summary

MALFORMATIONS

Horseshoe Kidney

A horseshoe kidney is a single, midline, horseshoe-shaped kidney.

The kidney is formed by an interaction between the ureteric bud and the metanephric blastema (Figures 19.1 to 19.3). If the ureteric buds are located more medially than normal or if the inducible metanephric blastema is continuous at the lower pole, then a fused horseshoe kidney may develop.

The horseshoe kidney is usually at a lower level than normal kidneys. Its renal pelves are displaced anteriorly and its ureters usually course across the anterior surfaces of the kidney. Dysplastic development may occur in the fused portion of the kidney.

The ureters may be duplicated or angulated, so that obstruction, which leads to hydronephrosis, occurs.

Ectopic Kidney

A kidney is ectopic when it is in the pelvis and not in its usual location. Ureter duplication is a double ureter that can be unilateral or bilateral. Ectopic kidney and ureter duplication usually are not functionally important in the prenatal period. Their frequency is increased in chromosome aneuploidies.

Renal Agenesis

In bilateral renal agenesis, both kidneys and ureters are absent (Table 19.1).

Bilateral renal agenesis is rare, occurring in 1/3,000 to 1/4,000 live borns (Figure 19.4). Unilateral agenesis occurs in 1/1,000 newborns; it is more common in males.

It is postulated that renal agenesis is caused by the failure of the ureteric bud to develop. The ureteric bud normally induces the metanephric blastema to become a kidney.

Type
Chapter
Information
Embryo and Fetal Pathology
Color Atlas with Ultrasound Correlation
, pp. 513 - 545
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2004

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure coreplatform@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×