Cortex
Outer layer of kindey
Medulla
Inner layer of kidney
Divided into conical structures: renal pyramids
Renal pyramids
Part of medulla
Papilla at apex and filtrate enters into renal pelvis to ureter for storage
Renal artery
Supplies blood to kindly to be filtered
Branches quickly, and migrate between pyramidal structures
Arcuate artery
Branching arteries fuse at border of cortex and medulla
Branching off are afferent arterioles - capillary networks that act as filtration sites
Glomerular capillaries
Sites of filtration
Afferent arterioles
Branch into glomerular capillaries
Efferent arterioles
From glomerular capillaries, branch into another capillary network
Feeds peritubular network
Peritubular capillaries
If afferents/efferents are within cortex, bring O2 to cortex
Cortical/Superficial glomeruli
Close to surface of cortex, 85% of glomeruli
Efferent from these feel peritubular network
Juxtamedullary glomeruli
Border between medulla and cortex, 15% of glomeruli
Feed vasa recta which provides O2 to medulla
Nephron
Functional unit of kidney, most renal physiology associated with the nephron Each kidney contains more than a million Filtration part: glomerulus Tubule structure: single cell tube from glomerulus to papilla 4 functional parts: 1. Proximal tubule 2. Loop of Henle 3. Distal tubule 4. Collecting duct
Superficial/cortical nephron
Associated with surface glomeruli
Deep/Juxtamedullary nephron
Associated close to border
Long loops that extend deep into medulla, allow for concentration
First to be affected by bladder/kidney infection
Proximal tubule
Workhorse of kidney, bulk of transport occurs here
Loop of Henle
Receives fluid from proximal tubule
Long loop in deep nephron
Thin descending limb, descending into medulla, curves to thin ascending limb which merges into thick ascending limb
Fluid moves from loop to distal tubule
Distal tubule
Fluid empties to collecting duct
Collecting duct
Serves many nephrons, opens to renal papilla
Filtration
Moving from glomerular capillary to Bowman’s space to be secreted
Secretion
From lumen of interstitial environment into tubule to be secreted
Reabsorption
Opposite of secretion, urine compartment back to circulatory compartment
Bowman’s Capsule
Contains glomerulus, substances from from vascular compartment to urine compartment
Filtration barriers
Fenestrated capillary endothelium
Glomerular capillary cells, big pores (80Å), large filtrations, does not allow cell components of blood to move across
If you see blood, barrier is damaged or bleeding is downstream
Does not allow large MW proteins