Renal Histology Flashcards
What are the function of the renal system?
Maintain water and electrolyte homeostasis, body fluid osmolarity and acid-base balance
Excrete toxic metabolic waste products = urea, creatine
Endocrine gland = produces renin and erythropoeitin
What is the gross appearance of the kidney?
Bean shaped organ = 10-12cm long, 5-6cm wide, 3cm thick
Where is the kidney located?
In the upper retroperitoneal area = covered by a thin but strong capsule of dense collagen fibres
What is the function of the hilum of the kidney?
Site of entry of the renal artery, and exit of the renal vein and ureter
What are the structures present working from the ureter and in towards the kidney?
Renal pelvis, major calyces, minor calyces,
What are the two main features of the kidney?
Has inner cortex and outer medulla = medulla is further divided into layers
What is the medulla of the kidney divided into?
Medullary pyramids (8-18 per kidney) = apices point towards hilum (called papillae) ending on minor calyces
What makes up a lobe of the kidney?
Each medullary pyramid and its associated cortical tissue
What is the capsule of the kidney continuous with?
The connective tissue that lines the renal sinus
What is the basic functional unit of the kidney?
The nephron = composed of a renal corpuscle and tubules, total length is 45-65mm
What is the function of the renal corpuscle of the nephron?
Production and collection of glomerular filtrate
What is the function of the proximal convoluted tubule of the nephron?
Reabsorption of water, proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates and glucose
What is the function of the loop of Henle in the nephron?
Creation of hyperosmotic environment in the medulla
What is the function of the distal convoluted tubule of the nephron?
Acid-base and water balance = absorbs water, sodium, bicarbonate, and excretes of potassium and hydrogen
What forms the renal corpuscle?
Glomerulus and the Bowman’s capsule
What is the Bowman’s capsule?
Cup of simple squamous epithelium at the blind end of the nephron which capillaries invaginate into
What is the glomerulus?
Tuft of capillaries = supplied by an afferent arteriole and drained by an efferent arteriole
What separates the blood from the glomerular filtrate?
Capillary endothelium and the specialised epithelium which lies on top of the glomerular capillaries
What are some features of the capillary endothelium that helps separate blood from the glomerular filtrate?
Fenestrated with pores of 70-90mm diameter
What makes up the specialised epithelium that lies on top of the glomerular capillaries?
Made of podocytes that have interdigitating cell processes = form filtration slits, causes sawtooth appearance
What is between the capillary endothelium and the specialised epithelium in the renal corpuscle?
Thicker than usual (0.5 micrometers) basal lamina = made up of a feltwork of GAGs
What makes up the mesangium of the renal corpuscle?
Scattered mesangial cells = produce a connective tissue core
What is the glomerular filtrate?
100-125 ml/min ultrafiltrate of plasma (only 1 ml/min of urine)