Histology Flashcards
When the kidney is acting as an endocrine gland, what does it produce?
Renin
Erythropoietin
What is the renal hilum?
Site of entry of renal artery and exit of renal vein and ureter
What are the two major zones to the kidney?
Cortex
Medulla
What is the orientation of the medullary pyramids?
Apices point towards the hilum
What is the components of the nephron?
Renal corpuscle
Renal tubules
What name is given to the capillaries which form the renal corpuscle?
Glomerulus
What is the Bowman’s capsule?
Layer of cells that hold the knot of capillaries and allow diffusion
What cell makes up the Bowman’s capsule?
Squamous epithelium
What supplies the glomerulus with blood?
Afferent arteriole
Which two cell layers separate the blood from glomerular filtrate?
Capillary endothelium
Podocytes
What lies between the layers of capillary endothelium and the podocytes?
Basal lamina made up of glycosaminoglycans
What are mesangial cells?
They form the core of connective tissue of the glomerulus
Why is it important that the epithelium is fenestrated?
So larger proteins can pass from capillary to Bowman’s space
What type of cell makes up the proximal convoluted tubule?
Simple cuboidal epithelial with substantial microvilli
Where is the Loop of Henle?
Medulla
What cell makes up the thin loop of Henle ?
Simple squamous
What cell makes up the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle?
Simple cuboidal epithelial
How is the DCT different from the PCT?
lacks microvilli
DCT is thicker and has smaller luminal space
What are medullary rays?
Collecting ducts, straight segments of proximal and distal tubules and gathered together in these parallel bundles
What cells make up the collecting ducts?
Columnar epithelium
What makes up the juxtaglomerular apparatus?
Macula densa
Juxtaglomerular cells
Extraglomerular mesangial cells
What do the macula densa of the juxtaglomerular apparatus do?
On DCT side, nearest the afferent arteriole.
Sense ion composition in the DCT
What do the juxtaglomerular cells do?
These are smooth muscle cells in afferent arteriole.
Secrete renin.
What is another name for transitional epithelium?
Urothelium
Describe urothelium
Stratified
3-6 layers thick, with varying thickness
What cells are present at the luminal surface of the urothelium?
Umbrella cells
What kind of cell is the distal urethra lined with?
Stratified squamous
What cell makes up the prostate?
Simple columnar secretory epithelium
