Week 2 - Histology

Question 1

What is the function of the kidneys?

Answer 1

Fluid, electrolyte and acid-base balance and hormone production

Question 2

Where are the ducts of Bellini?

Answer 2

At the end of the collecting duct

Question 3

Whats the order of drainage of tubules in the kidneys?

Answer 3

Renal corpuscle (glomerulus and bowman’s capsule), proximal convoluted tubule, loop of henle, distal convoluted tubule

Question 4

What can you see histologically in the renal cortex?

Answer 4

Renal corpuscles and proximal convoluted tubules

Question 5

How does development result in a double layered covering of the bowman’s capsule?

Answer 5

Primitive renal tube derived from the ureteric bud is a bling ending tube, this grows into primordial of true kidney which then envelopes growing glomerulus

Question 6

What is the vascular pole?

Answer 6

Afferent and efferent arterioles (glomerulus)

Question 7

What is the urinary pole?

Answer 7

Bowman’s capsule

Question 8

Whats the bowman’s space?

Answer 8

The bit between the glomerulus and the bowman’s capsule

Question 9

What is the function of the renal corpuscle?

Answer 9

To produce ultrafiltrate of plasma

Question 10

Whats is the parietal layer of the bowman’s capsule made oit of?

Answer 10

Simple squamous epithelium

Question 11

What is the filtration barrier made by?

Answer 11

Capillary endothelium and visceral layer of bowman’s capsule

Question 12

What part of the visceral layer of the bowman’s capsule wraps round the capillary endothelium and what is its function?

Answer 12

Podocytes and they stop cells passing through

Question 13

What are the features if the capillary endothelium that make it a good filter?

Answer 13

Is fenestrated so makes filtration slits between the podocytes, endothelium and podocytes share a basement membrane

Question 14

What is the epithelium of the proximal convoluted tubule?

Answer 14

Simple cuboidal with brush boarder

Question 15

What 4 parts is the loop of henle made up of?

Answer 15

Pars recta, thin descending limb, thin ascending limb, thick ascending limb

Question 16

Describe the epithelium of the thin limb of loop of henle?

Answer 16

Simple squamous epithelium as job active transport

Question 17

Describe the epithelium of the thick ascending limb?

Answer 17

Simple cuboidal

Question 18

How do you tell the difference between distal and proximal convoluted tubules?

Answer 18

distal has no brush boarder and a larger lumen

Question 19

How do we tell the difference between the collecting duct and the thick limb of loop of henle histologically?

Answer 19

Collecting duct lumens are larger and tend to be more irregular than circular

Question 20

What is the renal pyramid?

Answer 20

Progressively larger ducts formed by merging of collecting ducts

Question 21

Where do the renal pyramids empty at?

Answer 21

renal papilla

Question 22

Describe the walls of the ureters?

Answer 22

2 layers of smooth muscle (a third layer appears in lower 1/3 of ureter), lined by transitional epithelium (urothelium)

Question 23

Describe the walls of the bladder?

Answer 23

3 layer of muscle, outer adventitia, transitional epithelium (urothelium)

Question 24

What are the features of urothelium?

Answer 24

Stratified epithelium, umbrella cells on surface which make it impermeable, gives ability to stretch

Question 25

What is the juxtaglomerular apparatus made of?

Answer 25

macula densa cells (distal convoluted tubule), juxtaglomerular cells (afferent arteriole) and extraglomerular mesangial cells