Renal Histology Lecture Flashcards
What is another term for the renal system?
The genitourinary system
What makes up the renal system?
2x kidney
2x ureter
1x bladder
1x urethra
How does the location of the right and left kidney vary?
What are the landmarks for this?
The reight kidney is lower than the left kidney (due to the presence of the liver above the right kidney)
The right kidney is found between T12 and L3
The left kidney is found between T11 and L2
What are the different functions of the kidney?
Regulate blood volume
Regulate concentration of Ions
Regulate pH of blood through long term balance of acids and bases
Metabolic process - regulate glucose and Vitamin D synthesis (role in blood calcium levels)
Excretion of urea, waste, toxins and bioactive substances such as drugs
Endocrine funtion - renin and EPO
Very Clever PIgeons Migrate East Easily
What is the functional unit of a kidney?
The uriniferious tubulue
Consisting of the nephron and the collecting duct
What makes up the barrier between the glomerulus and the bowmans space?
Capillary endothelium
Basement membrane
Pericytes
What is the renal sinus?
Branches of adipose tissue between the calyx system in the kidney (mainly between the minor calycx)
Roughly where in the kidney is EPO produced.
In the cortex of the kidney in the interstitial cells near the proximal convoluted tubule of the kidney.
What makes up the renal corpuscle?
The bowmans capsule
The glomerulus
What is the flow of structures in the nephron?
Renal corpuscle - glomerulus
Proximal convoluted tubule
Thick descending segment of the PCT
Thin descending segment of the loop of henle
Thick ascending segment of the loop of henle
Thick ascending segment of the DCT
Distal convoluted tubules
Connecting tubulue
Collecting duct
What is important to note about the position of the macula densa cells?
Located in the DCT - are identifiable are simple columnar rather than simple cuboidal.
In the DCT closest to opposite to the tubular pole
What is the cell type of the proximal convoluted tubule?
Simple cuboidal with microvilli
What is the cell type of the DCT?
Simple cuboidal without microvilli
What is the cell type of the thin descending limb of the loop of henle?
SImple sqaoumous
What is the cell type of the thick ascending limb loop of henle?
Simple cuboidal
What is the cell type of the collecting tubule?
Simple cuboidal to columnar
What features of the PCT adapt it to absorption?
Microvilli brush border + large surface area
Lots of mitochondria
What are the two different types of nephrons based on their location in the kidney?
The cortical nephrons - PCT/DCT/G located in cortex, long loop of henle dippping down into medullar
The juxtamedullary nephron - near the junction of the cortex and the medulla, shorter loop of henle dipping down into the medulla
What are the different poles of the glomerulus?
The tubular pole - where filtrate leaves to enter PCT
The vascular pole - where the afferent and efferent arteriole are.
What is the cell type of bowmans capsule?
Simple sqaoumous
What are the two difference layers of the bowmans capsule?
The visceral layer - podocytes fused to the basement mebrane of the glomerular capillaries
The parietal layer - the simple sqaoumous cells with an outer basal lamina
The visceral and parietal layer are seperated by bowmans space
What are the key features of podocytes, how does this contribute to filtration?
Pododcyts have a cell body
Then primary processes (big arm)
THen secondary processes (fingers)
Between the seconadry processes are filtration slits
These allow some substances to pass through but are a barrier to small protein.
What are pedicles in relation to the glomerurulus?
Secondary processes of podocytes
What are filtration slit diaphragms?
The space between podocyte pedicles in the glomerulus filtration barrier.