Evaluating Renal Disease in Reptiles

basic Anatomy:

• Urinary tract consists of paired kidneys, each connected to the urinary bladder or cloaca by paired ureters
- Depending on species, urinary bladder may be present and enter the cloaca via a urethra. In general, chelonians have urinary bladders, snakes do not, and lizards are variable.

• Cloaca divided into three regions- “CUP”
- Coprodeum- most cranial, receives waste products from rectum
- Urodeum- middle, receives the ureters, urinary bladder, and genital ducts
- Proctodeum- most caudal, waste and reproductive products mix before discharge

• Vent can be slit-like or round
- Covered by a single large scale, multiple scales, or fleshy soft skin

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