Histology of Renal System

Question 1

What is the kidney covered by?

Answer 1

collagen fibres.

Question 2

Name the site of entry of renal artery and exit of renal vein and ureter.

Answer 2

hilium

Question 3

Is the medulla or cortex divided into smaller layers?

Answer 3

medulla

Question 4

What is the nephron composed of?

Answer 4

renal corpuscle and the renal tubules.

Question 5

What is the basic functional unit of the kidney?

Answer 5

nephron

Question 6

What is the renal corpsucle formed from?

Answer 6

the glomerulus and the Bowman’s capsule

Question 7

Name the cup of simple squamous epithelium at the blind end of the nephron which the capillaries invaginate into.

Answer 7

Bowmans capsule

Question 8

Name the tuft of capillaries and how it is suppleied.

Answer 8

glomerulus
supplied by afferent
drained by efferent

Question 9

Name the two cell layers separate the blood from the glomerular filtrate.

Answer 9

the capillary endothelium and a specialised epithelium (podocytes)

Question 10

What is found between two layers which is thicker than usual?

Answer 10

basal lamina, made up of a feltwork of GAGs

Question 11

What do mesangial cells produce?

Answer 11

connective tissue layer called mesangium

Question 12

Function of mesangial cells?

Answer 12

several functions, including support and removal of debris

Question 13

Where is the loop of Henle?

Answer 13

medulla

Question 14

What type of lining does the loop of Henle have?

Answer 14

squamous lining in which the nuclei typically protrude into the lumen

Question 15

What type of lining covers the transition to the thick ascending limb?

Answer 15

cuboidal epithelial cells with abundant mitochondria

Question 16

What does this describe: Thin walled blood vessels dip down into the medulla from above and then climb back up to the cortex?

Answer 16

vasa recta

Question 17

Where are the distal convoluted tubules found?

Answer 17

cortex

Question 18

Describe the difference histologically between the proximal and distal convuluted tubules.

Answer 18

both lined by simple cuboidal epithelium, however unlike the proximal convoluted tubules, those of the DCT lack a brush border of extensive microvilli.

Question 19

What is the lining of the collecting ducts?

Answer 19

a simple columnar epithelium

Question 20

What are longitudinal section of collecting ducts often referred to?

Answer 20

ducts of bellini

Question 21

What are the three components of the juxtaglomerular apparatus?

Answer 21

The macula densa.
The juxtaglomerular cells.
The extraglomerular mesangial cells (or lacis cells)

Question 22

What are the modified smooth muscle cells in wall of the afferent arteriole, which contain/secrete renin?

Answer 22

juxtaglomerular cells

Question 23

Which cells in the juxtaglomerular apparatus extend outside of the renal corpuscle?

Answer 23

extraglomerular mesangial cells/lacis cells

Question 24

What is believed to be the function of the macula densa?

Answer 24

sensing ion composition in the DCT

Question 25

What happens to the urine produced at the renal papilla?

Answer 25

collected into the minor calyx, flows into the major calyx, renal pelvis, ureter and then into the bladder. During voiding it flows into the urethra and exits the body

Question 26

What are most of the conducting parts of the urinary tract lined by?

Answer 26

a special epithelium called transitional epithelium or urothelium

Question 27

What are the cells at the luminal surface called?

Answer 27

umbrella cells

Question 28

What two facts explain the structure of the epithelium?

Answer 28

1) the variability in thickness of cells represents different states of distension, and
2) the apical surface of the cells at the surface have a thickened membrane to provide a highly impermeable barrier

Question 29

What is below the specialised epithelium?

Answer 29

lamina propria and 2-3 layers of smooth muscle.

Question 30

In which urethra, the male or female, doesthe epithelium change from transitional to stratified squamous near its termination?

Answer 30

female