Histology Lecture 1 -- Kidney and Urinary System Flashcards
(128 cards)
Structures that leave or enter the kidney at the hilum
Branches of the:
- Renal arter yand vein
- Lymph vessels
- Ureter
Define the renal pelvis
Expanded ureter at the level of the hilum of the kidney
What does the kidney parenchyma surround
Renal sinus
Describe the appearance of the cortex and medulla of the kidney in fresh tissue
- Cortex = granular and dark brown
- Medulla = lighter and striated
Components of the medulla
6 - 12 pyramid-shaped regions = renal pyramids
Define the renal papilla
Apex of each renal pyramid bulging into the renal sinus
What perforated the renal papilla?
Approximately 20 openings of the ducts of Bellini (area cribosa)
Define the tissue between the renal pyramids. Are they part of the medulla or the cortex?
Cortical columns / Columns of Bertin
Part of the medulla (even though they are extensions of cortical tissue)
What covers each renal papilla
Minor calyx
What forms a major calyx?
2 to 3 adjacent minor calyces that fuse
Where do major calyces open into?
The renal pelvis
3 types of structures that can be observed in the cortex
- Renal corpuscles
- Convoluted tubules and longitudinal striations
- Medullary rays
How many lobes in a rat kidney?
1
Define a kidney lobe
One renal pyramid and its surrounding cortical tissue
Define a kidney lobule
One medullary ray and surrounding area of convoluted tubules and renal corpuscles
Define the uriniferous tubule
The functional unit of the kidney
2 parts of the uriniferous tubule and how they are differentiated
- Nephron
- Collecting tubule
Differentiated by different embryological origins
Number of nephrons per kidney
1 - 4 million
2 types of nephron
- Cortical
- Juxtamedullary
3 characteristics of cortical nephrons
- Located in the cortex
- Short
- Short loops of Henle
3 characteristics of the juxtamedullary nephron
- Located close to the medulla
- Very long loops of Henle that penetrate the medulla
- About 40 mm long
4 components of the nephron
- Renal corpuscle
- Proximal convoluted tubule
- Loop of Henle
- Distal convoluted tubule
Diameter of renal corpuscle
200 micrometers
2 components of the renal corpuscle
- Glomerulus
- Bowman’s capsule




