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Year 2 Histology > Renal System > Flashcards

Renal System Flashcards

1
Q

Functions of the kidney and urinary tract?

A
  1. Maintain water and electrolyte homeostasis, body fluid osmolarity and acid-base balance
  2. Excrete toxic metabolic waste products
    These are both achieved via the production, storage and voiding of urine
  3. Act as an endocrine gland, producing renin and erythropoietin
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2
Q

Shape of the kidney?

A

Bean-shaped organ in the upper retroperitoneal area

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3
Q

Progressive structures from the kidney to the ureter?

A
  1. Minor calyces
  2. Major calyces
  3. Renal pelvis
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4
Q

Arrangement of the kidneys?

A

Cortex - extends between the medullary pyramids, forming renal columns

Medulla - divided into medullary pyramids (10-18 per kidney); the apices point towards the hilum ending on the minor calcyes (known as the papillae, form which urine drips into the renal pelvis)

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5
Q

Arteries within the kidney?

A

Interlobular arteries pass within the renal columns

Arcuate arteries arc over the renal pyramids

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6
Q

Components of the nephron?

A

Renal corpuscle

Renal tubules

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7
Q

What is the nephron?

A

Functional unit of the kidneys

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8
Q

Structure of the renal corpuscle?

A
  1. Glomerulus (tuft of capillaries)
  2. Bowman’s capsule (cup of simple squamous epithelium at the blind end of the nephron; capillaries invaginate into this)

Glomerulus is supplied by an afferent arteriole and drained by an efferent arteriole

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9
Q

Layers separating the blood from the glomerular filtrate?

A
  1. Capillary endothelium
  2. Specialised epithelium (lies on top of the glomerular capillaries) with epithelial cells called PODOCYTES

Between these 2 layers is a thicker than usual basal lamine, made up of GAGs

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10
Q

Arrangement of the podocytes?

A

Endothelium is fenestrated with pores and the podocytes have inter-digitating cell processes, which form filtration slits

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11
Q

Connective tissue core of the renal corpuscle?

A

Consists of scattered mesangial cells, which have several functions (support and removal of debris)

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12
Q

Structure of a proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) cell?

A

Have a brush border

IMAGE

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13
Q

Histological cross-section of the PCT?

A

IMAGE

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14
Q

Differences in the limbs of the loop of Henle?

A

Thin limb - thin, simple, squamous lining in which the nuclei typically protrude into the lumen

Transition to the thick limb

Thick limb - simple, cuboidal epithelial cells with abundant mitochondria

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15
Q

What is the vasa recta?

A

Thin-walled blood vessels that dip down into the medulla from above and then climb back up to the cortex

These loops are collectively termed the vasa recta

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16
Q

Differences between the DCT and PCT?

A

Found in the cortex and are lined by simple cuboidal epithelium

Unlike the PCT, the cells of the DCT lack a brush border of extensive microvilli

IMAGE

17
Q

Arrangement of the collecting ducts in the cortex?

A

Collecting ducts, along with the straight segments of the PCT and DCT are gather together in parallel bundles

These run perpendicular to the surface of the kidney and are called medullary rays

18
Q

Arrangement of the collecting ducts in the medulla?

A

Appear alongside the loops of Henle and vasa recta

As they converge onto the opening at the renal papilla, they are referred to as the Ducts of Bellini

19
Q

Lining of the collecting ducts?

A

Simple columnar epithelium

20
Q

What is the juxtaglomerular apparatus?

A

Specialised region formed at the site where the DCT passes adjacent to the vascular pole of the SAME renal corpuscle, that forms part of its very own nephron

21
Q

3 components of the juxtaglomerular apparatus?

A
  1. Macula densa
  2. Juxtaglomerular cells (AKA granular cells)
  3. Extraglomerular mesangial cells (or lacis cells)
22
Q

Location and structure of the macula densa?

A

On the side of the DCT nearest the afferent arteriole

Cells are taller, crowded together and nuclei and intensely stained

23
Q

Function of the macule densa?

A

Sensing NaCl in the tubular fluid at the DCT

24
Q

Location and function of the juxtaglomerular cells?

A

AKA granular cells
Modified smooth muscle cells in the wall of the afferent arteriole

Contain/secrete renin

25
Q

Location and function of the extraglomerular mesangial cells (lacis cells)?

A

Modified mesangial cells extending outside of the renal corpuscle

Exact function is unknown

26
Q

Structure of the conducting parts of the urinary systems (urine conducting elements)?

A 
Urine produced at the renal papilla (where the collecting duct drains into the minor calyx) is collected into and then flows via:
• Minor calyx
• Major calyx
• Renal pelvis
• Ureter
• Bladder

During voiding, it flows into the urethra and exits the body

27
Q

Lining of the urine conducting elements?

A

Almost all are lined by transition epithelium (AKA urothelium)

Below this, there is a lamine propria and 2-3 layers of smooth muscle

Cells at the luminal surface are called umbrella cells, as they are domed (AKA surface cells)

28
Q

Why does the epithelium of the urinary tract have a special structure?

A
  1. Variability in thickness of cells represents different states of distension
  2. Apical surface of the cells at the surface have a thickened membrane to provide a highly impermeable barrier
29
Q

Lining of the ureter?

A
  1. Transitional epithelium
  2. Lamina propria (fibroelastic connective tissue)
  3. Muscularis externa (smooth muscle)
30
Q

Lining of the urinary bladder?

A
  1. Urothelium
  2. Lamina propria
  3. Smooth muscle layers
31
Q

Structure of the urethra in females?

A

3-5cm in length

Initially lined by transitional epithelium, which transitions to stratified squamous (near its transition)

32
Q

Structure of the urethra in males?

A

20cm in length:
• Prostatic urethra - extends from bladder through the prostate gland; lined by transitional epithelium
• Membranous urethra - extends from prostate to the bulb of the penis; transitional epithelium changes to stratified columnar
• Penile urethra - lined by stratified columnar epithelium which, near the tip of the penis, becomes stratified squamous

33
Q

Lining of the prostate gland?

A

Tubulo-alveolar glands lined typically by simple columnar secretory epithelium and with a fibromuscular stroma

Its secretions make up about 1/2 the seminal fluid volume

Year 2 Histology (4 decks)

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