Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
URINARY SYSTEM
Histology Departement
FK USU
August 2009
2009
Urinary System:
System Kidney, urinary passages
Passages include:
Calyces
Renal Pelvis
Ureter
Accessory parts include:
Urinary bladder
Urethra
Kidney:
Kidney
Flattened, bean-shaped ~4.5 inches long
Capsule: thin, fibrous, weakly attached (mostly collagenous fibers)
Capsule
Interstitial C.T. – scant; entirely reticular tissue
Hilus: slit-like orifice – opens into expanded renal sinus,
sinus a flattened cavity
Renal sinus filled with: renal pelvis (expanded ureter); fat; C.T.;
blood vessels; nerves
Kidney cross-
cross-section
Renal Pelvis:
Subdivided into 2 or 3 major calyces
Major calyces (1) subdivide into 7 – 10 minor calyces (2)
Minor calyces fit over a renal papilla (3)
3
Kidney interior: largely parenchyma
Nephron:
The physiological unit of the kidney used for filtration of blood and
reabsorption and secretion of materials
Unbranched; 35 mm. long
Includes straight portions & convoluted portions
1,300,000 tubules each kidney
Collecting tubules
part of a branched, tree-like system of excretory ducts
tubules are straight
Length: 21 mm. (each)
Nephrons
Parts of the Uriniferous Tubule
Consecutive portions differ structurally & functionally
(proximal means near the glomerulus & distal means nearer the papilla)
The parts starting from the proximal end, taken in order:
Nephron
Glomerular capsule of Bowman
Proximal Convoluted Tubule (including the
straight portion = thick, descending segment of
Henle’s loop)
Thin segment of Henle’s loop
Thick, ascending segment of Henle’s loop
Distal Convoluted Tubule
The Excretory (= duct) Portion
Arched Collecting Tubule (= junctional tubule)
Straight Collecting Tubule
Papillary Duct of Bellini
Uriniferous tubule segment locations are constant (recognizable regions)
3 primary topographical regions in kidney
Cortical labyrinth
Cortical ray
Medulla
In each region, 3 different tubular segments easily recognized (marked with
asterisk)
Cortical Labyrinth
Glomerular capsule of Bowman*
Proximal Convoluted Tubule*
Thick, ascending segment of Henle’s loop
Distal Convoluted Tubule*
Arched Collecting Duct
Cortical Ray
Straight portion of Proximal Convoluted Tubule*
Thick Ascending Segment of Henle’s Loop*
Straight Collecting Tubule*
Medulla
Straight portion of Proximal Tubule (thick, descending
segment of Henle’s Loop)
Thin segment of Henle’s Loop*
Thick, ascending segment of Henle’s Loop*
Straight Collecting Tubule; Papillary Duct of Bellini*
Tubule Characteristics
Epithelium is specific to each segment (tubule)
Epithelium of excretory ducts is of one structural type
All rest on a basement membrane
Renal (Malpighian
(Malpighian)) Corpuscle
Spheroidal (0.2 mm. wide); Vascular glomerulus; Double-walled cup
(nearly surrounds glomerulus)
Glomerulus
= rete mirabile
afferent arteriole enters, forms many loops (smaller bore)
efferent arteriole formed as loops unite; leaves glomerulus
afferent & efferent arterioles enter & leave together at vascular
pole
Renal Corpuscle
RENAL CORPUSCLE
Endothelium thin
Tunica media of afferent arteriole modified near entry point
Smooth muscle cells large, pale staining, lack myofibrils
= a myo-epitheliod cuff, the juxtaglomerular cell
Juxtaglomerular cell closely associated with macula
densa of ascending limb
Juxtaglomerular apparatus:
•Consists of JG cell, macula densa & mesangial cell (Lacis cell or Polkissen cell)
•Functions in the regulation of blood pressure
•Juxtaglomerular cells – secrete renin which activates angiotensin II
(a vasoconstrictor)
Juxtaglomerular Apparatus
Glomerular Capsule
Bowman’s Capsule – an epithelial cup
Parietal (external) & visceral (internal) layer
both are simple squamous epithelium
cell boundaries; basement membrane - clear
Layers are continuous
Layers enclose space
Parietal layer
Visceral layer
Glomerulus & Sel Podosit
Renal Corpuscle and the Filtration
Membrane
Neck – very short segment of tubule!
Parietal layer opens into neck (urinary
urinary pole)
pole
Rapid epithelial change: flat capsular cells rise to cuboidal then to
low columnar
Proximal Convoluted Tubule – longest (14 mm.), broadest (60 µ) tubule segment
Most of bulk of pars convoluta (cortex)
Remarkably contorted tubule!
Location: Immediate vicinity of renal corpuscle
Enters medullary (cortical) ray in ray to medulla
Straightens in ray (= straight portion of proximal tubule or thick
descending segment of Henle’s loop)
Cells are low columnar
Cell limits indistinct
Nuclei: large, pale, spheroidal – 3 to 4 show in
transverse section
Free surface: brush border – resorpitive function
Thin Segment of Henle’s Loop
Location: boundary zone of medulla
Sharp transition from thick proximal tubule: reduced to 2 to 10 mm. long &
15 µ wide
Resembles a capillary but is larger & thicker walled
Short or long and recurved
If this part extends past apex of loop: makes sharp hair-pin bend
Interlocking cells – squamous with pale cytoplasm
Brush border is absent
Microvilli present (can see on EM)
Nuclei flat, bulge into lumen
Collecting Duct
Thin Segment