Histology of the Kidney

Question 1

Describe histological features of the renal corpuscle

Answer 1

Glomerulus is coated with podocytes (visceral layer of bowman’s capsule) which is continuous with the parietal layer of bowmen’s capsule. The Capsule encloses the urinary space.
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Question 2

What is the macula densa?

Answer 2

Heavily nucleated region of the distal tubule which comes into contact with the vascular pole of the glomerulus of its own nephron.

Question 3

Describe features of the renal medulla

Answer 3

• Collecting tubules with columnar cells, pale cytoplasm and well-defined lateral boundaries.
• Thin segments of loop of henle with thin squamous epithelium and long oval nuclei that bulge into the lumen.
• Thick loop of Henle have cuboidal calls with eosinophilic cytoplasm

Question 4

Describe features of the renal cortex

Answer 4

• Arcuate vessels lie at cortico-medullary junction.

- Interlobular vessels lie at the periphery of renal lobules.

Question 5

Describe histological features of the ureter

Answer 5

Mucous membrane gives stellate appearance to narrow lumen.
Epithelium is transition with 5/6 layers.
Lamina propria is composed of collagen fibres and capillaries.
Muscle coat arranged in spiral manner and bundles of fibres pass from one later to another.
Adventitia contains collagen fibres, BVs and nerve fibre bundles

Question 6

Describe histological features of the bladder

Answer 6

Mucous membrane - in folds of contracted cladder,
Epithelium - Transitional which can stretch without rupture
Muscle coat - very thick consisting of 3 layers.
Adventitia - Collagen fibres, BVs and lymphatics

Question 7

What is the urinary pole?

Answer 7

Continuity between urinary space and first part of the proximal tubule.