Histology Flashcards
(139 cards)
What are the 4 main components of the urinary tract?
- 2 kidneys
- ureters
- Bladder
- urethra
What does a nephron comprise of?
Glomerulis PCT Thick limb of the loop of henle Thin limb of the loop of henle DCT Collecting duct
3 layers of the kidney at low microscopic levels?
- Cortex
- Medulla
- Central renal pelvis
What are primarily found in the renal cortex and which appears most prevalent?
Glomerulus
PCT
DCT
PCT appears most prevalent as it is the largest. However, they are all present in equal numbers.
What is a medullary ray?
Specialised areas- collections of loops of henle and collecting diets that originate from nephrons that have their renal corpuscles in the outer part of the cortex.
What does the renal medulla comprise of?
Loop of henle and collecting ducts?
What do the tubular structures in the renal medulla comprise of?
Loop of henle and associated blood vessel
What is a key feature of the capillaries in the glomerulus?
They are fenestrated
What specialised cells are found on the outside of the glomerular basement membrane?
Podocytes
What specialised connective tissue cells support the glomerulus?
Mesangial cells
What is the glomerulus encased in?
Bowman’s capsule
How can capillary endothelial cells and mesangial cells within the glomerulus be distinguished on a microscope slide?
Capillary endothelial cells have a nucleus that lies in the inside of the capillary
Mesangial cells lie between capillaries
Role of mesangial cells In the glomerulus?
-provides structural support for the capillaries in their production of extracellular matrix proteins.
-contraction of the smooth muscle that mesangial cells comprise, tightens the capillaries and so reduces glomerular filtration production rate.
This is impotent in tubuloglomerular feedback
-Also involved in the phagocytosis of glomerular basement membrane break down products
What is tubuloglomerular feedback?
Chemical changes in the tubules act to alter glomerular filtration rate
What are the 3 layers of the glomerular basement membrane?
Glomerular capillary wall
Basement membrane
Foot processes of the podocytes
In the capillary basement membrane of the glomerulus, what prevents the passage of albumin
Fenestrated vascular endothelial cells
How many grams of albumin per day in the urine would highlight a fault in the glomerulus?
3g
What does the glomerular basement membrane contain?
Collagen and negatively charged heparin sulfate molecules
What 3 cells are found in the juxtaglomerular apparatus?
Granular cells
Mecula densa cells
Lacis cells
What are the two components of the juxtaglomerular apparatus?
Afferent arteriole
Macula densa
What does the afferent arteriole contribute to the juxtaglomerular apparatus?
Granular cells
What do granular cells secrete
Renin in response to low BP
What do the macula densa cells in the juxtaglomerular apparatus do in response slow filtration
-slow filtration means more NaCl absorption. The macula densa cells send a signal to reduce afferent arteriole resistance and increase filtration rate
What epithelium is the PCT lined with?
Simple cuboidal epithelium