Renal Histology

1. ID tubules in renal cortex

- PCT and DCT

PCT is darker stained, larger, occluded lumen

DCT is lighter stained, smaller, empty lumen

2. ID tubules in renal medulla

Collecting duct- largest vessel

Thick limbs (ascending)-darker stain
than collecting duct
Thin limbs (descending)- smallest vessel
completely white

3. ID JG or MA

Juxtaglomerular cells-
keeps glomerular
filtration relatively
constant, regulates
blood flow through
glomerulus
Macula densa-
monitors levels of ions
in lumen of TAL
4. ID urinary or vascular poles

Tubular/Urinary pole: located adjacent

to PCT

Vascular pole: located adjacent to

afferent and efferent arterioles

5. 3 glomerular filtration barriers

-Fenestrations: restrict blood and platelets
-Glomerular basement membrane: restrict large proteins and organic ions
-Filtration slit diaphragm: restrict small proteins and organic ions

6. ID umbrella cells, where they’re located, what happens when they’re

unfolded or folded
 Umbrella cells are located in
urothelium
Protect underlying cells from
damage and prevent dilution of
stored urine
Folded: bladder is empty and
umbrella cells are bulbous
Unfolded: bladder is full and
umbrella cells are flatter

DMC discount:
1.
Exstrophy of bladder: deficiency of anterior abdominal wall, urine drains
from tissue mass, failure of mesoderm to migrate between ectoderm and endoderm
Horshoe kidney: inferior poles of kidney fuse along midline, impinge ureters
and cause UTIs
Pelvic kidney: failure of kidney to ascend, pancake shaped
Polycystic kidney disease: wasn’t in his powerpoint, genetic disorder
Urachal cyst: abnormal membranous sacs with fluid connected to umbilicus
and urinary bladder

2. Cause of two ureters and two pelves associated with one kidney
-Abnormal division of ureteric bud
3. Embryological substrate that gives rise to urogenital system
-Intermediate mesoderm which forms urogenital ridge
-Urogenital ridge forms pronephros, mesonephros, metanephros
-Portion of urogenital ridge forms nephrogenic cord, which forms
urinary system
4.
A- Allantois
B- Cloaca
C-Mesonephric duct
D- Ureteric bud
E- Metanephric
blastema/mesoderm