URINARY SYSTEM 2.

Regulation of acid-base balance in

conjunction with the respiratory
Objectives: system
3. Excretion of metabolic waste
 Understand and illustrate the products, especially the toxic
functions of different parts of the nitrogenous compounds
urinary system; 4. Production of renin for blood
 Differentiate histological structures pressure control and erythropoietin,
of the kidney, ureter, urinary which stimulates red blood cell
bladder, and urethra; production in the bone marrow
 State the differences and the 5. Conversion of vitamin D into active
commonalities of the parts of the form for the regulation of calcium
renal system of various animals; and balance
 Discuss the blood filtration.
Additionally, the kidney is an organ with
Preliminary Remarks various and distinct functions, a proper
comprehension of which presupposes an
The urinary system is composed of two accurate grasp of kidney structure. This
kidneys, two ureters, the urinary bladder, is especially the case for the connections
and the urethra. The kidney’s function between the renal tubules and
consists in the conservation of fluid vasculature.
components that are essential for the
maintenance of homeostasis. Variations between kidneys of species
Furthermore, it facilitates clearing out concerns differences of shape. More
the body from excess water, electrolytes specifically:
and waste products by means of
producing urine. The urine production  Feline, Canine, and ruminants
process culminates in the stages of blood (goats & sheep) - possess a smooth,
filtration, reabsorption and secretion. bean-like shape kidney
Subsequent to urine formation is the  Pig - has a smooth and elongated-
storing of urine in the bladder, wherein shaped kidney
it is temporarily stored and released  Ox - possess an externally scalloped
discontinuously, with the ureters and and oval shape kidney
urethra making available conduits for  Avian - The two reddish-brown
urine. kidneys of the domestic fowl, each
generally with three lobes, are found
immediately behind the lungs on
each side of the vertebral column
KIDNEY and closely associated with it
 Fish - form the first 2 kidneys,
The kidneys are paired, reddish- called the pronephros and
brown to purplish-brown organs located mesonephros, with the latter being
on the dorsal part of the abdominal the permanent adult kidney
cavity. It performs various crucial (mammals develop a third kidney,
homeostatic, hormonal, and metabolic the metanephros, as their final adult
processes, such as the following: kidney).
 Reptiles - there are two pairs of
1. Maintenance of water and kidneys at birth: the mesonephros
electrolyte homeostasis and the metanephros. The
metanephric kidney in reptiles, as in
 all amniote vertebrates, is retained  Kidneys in fish, the head kidney
as the functional kidney in adults filters out wastes that go through the
gills, while the posterior kidney
Some commonalities may be also filters wastes that go out the urinary
identified. For instance: pore. In freshwater fish, the kidneys
save ions and excrete water
 A connective tissue capsule exists  Kidneys in reptiles contain fewer
around all kinds of kidneys. It is nephrons and lack a Loop of Henle.
composed mainly of collagen fibers. Therefore, the kidneys cannot
Smooth muscle may be also present produce hypertonic urine. Only
in varying amounts. chelonians, the tuatara, and some
 The retroperitoneal position of lizards have a urinary bladder.
kidneys commonly provides one
surface with peritoneum, while MAIN PARTS OF THE KIDNEY
adipose tissue covers the rest of the
surfaces. 1. Renal Capsule (Kidney Capsule) -
This consists of three layers of
Moving forward, the kidney is connective tissues or fats that covers
composed of an outer cortex and inner and protects the kidney. It also aids
medulla. Structural divergences between in terms of connecting the organ to
kidneys of adult domestic animals may the surrounding tissues and
result from variations in the fusion increases its stability.
amount of the cortical and medullary
components in embryonic development.
For instance:

 Kidneys in bovine animals possess

an externally demarcated cortex and
a medulla which is segmented into
pyramids.
 The kidneys of pigs are multi-lobed
and consist of numerous and distinct FIgure 1: capsule & superficial cortex,
medullary pyramids. Moreover, kidney, cat 125x
their cortex is single and continuous
with a smooth outer surface.
 Kidneys of feline, canine, equine
and some ruminant animals –
sheep and goats – possess uni-
pyramidal kidneys, with the cortical
and medullary components fusing
into a single unit.
 Kidneys in avian flattened organs 2. Renal Artery - This is a large blood
embedded in ventral surface of vessel that controls the blood flow
synsacrum bone and each inside the kidney. It pumps
incompletely divided into three approximately 1.2 liters of blood
lobes; cranial, middle and wider- per minute.
largest caudal lobes. Avian kidney 3. Renal Vein - This is the main blood
lobes are showing subdivision; into vessel that transports filtered blood
units called lobules. Each lobule has out of the kidneys and back to the
a cortex and medulla heart.
4. Renal Papilla - These are the (DCT), connecting segment, renal
pyramid-shaped structures that corpuscles, thick ascending limb, and
transfer urine to the ureters. initial collecting tubule

6.2 Medullary Rays - This includes the

cortical collecting ducts, cortical thick
ascending limb and proximal straight
tubule.

Figure 2.1: renal papilla, kidney, dog

12.5x

Figure 2.2: renal papilla, kidney, goat

90x

Figure 3: cortex & portion of medulla,

kidney, dog 18x

5. Renal Pelvis - This is the funnel-

like structure that gathers urine and
transfers it down to two ureters.
Then, urine travels from the ureters
to the bladder, where it is stored.
6. Renal Cortex - Also known as the
kidney cortex — is the outer layer
or outer covering of the kidney,
located between renal capsule and
renal medulla. Furthermore, this
contains blood vessels that are
connected to the nephrons and this
is where the nephrons (blood-
filtering units) begin.

Thus, renal cortex has two (2) main

components: Figure 3.1: cortex, kidney, dog 36x

6.1 Cortical Labyrinth - This includes

the glomeruli, proximal convoluted
tubule (PCT), distal convoluted tubule
 7.2 Inner Medulla - This contains the
collecting duct, loop of Henle’s thin
descending and ascending limb

The arcuate arteries of the kidney, also

known as arciform arteries, are vessels
of the renal circulation. They are located
at the border of the renal cortex and
renal medulla.
Figure 3.2: cortex, portion of cortical
labyrinth & medullary ray, kidney,
monkey 125x

7. Renal Medulla - This is the

innermost portion of the kidney,
which mainly consists of a loop of
henle and collecting tubules. It is
also made up of 8-12 renal
pyramids; Renal pyramids are
triangular-shaped or cone-shaped
lobes, which contain a densely-
packed network of the nephron
structures, and are fused within the Figure 4.1: whole mount , outer and
cortex. Renal medulla’s functions inner stripes, kidney, monkey 10x
are to regulate water and salt in the
blood.

Figure 4.2: medulla , kidney, dog 250x

Figure 4: whole mount , kidney, monkey

10x

Moreover, renal medulla has two (2)

layers:

7.1 Outer Medulla - that comprises two

(2) stripes, which are the following: NEPHRON

7.1.1 Outer Stripes - This includes This is the kidney's functional and
proximal straight tubule, thick ascending structural unit. Each kidney contains
limb, and collecting duct roughly two (2) millions nephrons.
Although, the number of nephrons per
7.1.2 Inner Stripes - This includes the kidney differs from species to species.
transition of PST to the thin descending For instance, a canine kidney contains
limb of Henle’s loop, and collecting duct. about 400 thousand nephrons, a feline
one about 200 thousand, etc.
Regarding nephron development, the Different sections of nephrons are
offspring of carnivores and pigs are located in different parts of the kidney:
fairly immature after birth.
Consequently, nephrons may be still  The cortex contains the renal
forming for several weeks after birth, corpuscle, proximal, and distal
until renal maturity has been reached. convoluted tubules.
No new nephrons are formed after this  The medulla and medullary rays
stage. contain the loops of Henle and
collecting ducts.
Classification of nephrons may
depend on two separate factors: All the capillaries throughout the length
of the nephron are called the Peritubular
The location of renal corpuscles within capillaries; tiny blood vessels that lie
the cortex. Based on this scheme, closely to all segments of the tubule.
Nephrons are classified as a.) They develop from the efferent arteriole
superficial or cortical and b.) and are crucial for transporting solutes
midcortical or juxtamedullary. throughout the tubule.
The length of the loop. According to this
scheme, Nephrons are classified as a.)
short-looped or b.) long looped. The
majority of species have both kinds of
nephrons, with cats and dogs having
only long-looped nephrons and others –
such as beavers – have only short-
looped ones.

The heterogeneity of nephron kinds is an

indicator of differing functions.
Moreover, structural variances may
happen along the length of a single Cortical Nephron Juxtamedullary
nephron, which splits it into different Nephron

segments. The length of each segment is

different across different nephron types

Nephrons are found and start in the

cortex; thus, the tubules descend to the
medulla, then return to the cortex before
draining into the collecting duct. Then,
the collecting ducts will descend
towards the renal pelvis and extract the
urine into the ureter.
Figure 5: kidney, nephron, monkey, 0.5x
The components of a single nephron
include: RENAL CORPUSCLE

 Renal corpuscle The renal corpuscle is the first part of

 Proximal convoluted tubule the nephron and found in the cortical
 Loop of Henle labyrinth. It possesses a spherical shape
 Distal convoluted tubule with its size differing across species. For
 Connecting Segment instance, cats have a corpuscle that is
 Collecting Duct 120µm in diameter, whereas larger
animals have a corpuscle of a larger Bowman's capsule has two (2) layers:
diameter (the diameter of equine’s
corpuscle sits at 220µm).  The visceral layer is in contact with
the glomerulus, and is composed of
It is responsible for the filtration of the specialized epithelial cells known as
plasma. The Bowman’s capsule and the podocytes.
Glomerulus are its two (2) constituent  The parietal layer is the outer layer,
parts. The Bowman’s capsule, which is a and is composed of simple
component of renal tubule, encloses the squamous epithelial cells. This layer
Glomerulus, a cluster of capillary loops. is continuous with the epithelium of
the proximal convoluted tubule.

The space between the two layers is

named Bowman's space, and this space
contains the ultrafiltrate of plasma, aka
glomerular filtrate. Wherein blood enters
glomerulus via efferent arteriole, then
glomerulus continuously cycles the
blood to filter. The filtered blood will
then exit the glomerulus via efferent
arteriole. The filtrate then enters the
Bowman’s capsule and moves ahead in
proximal tubule for further processing.
These ultrafiltrate of plasma The plasma
has to pass through a filtration barrier of
three (3) layers to enter Bowman's space:
the 1.) capillary endothelium, the 2.)
podocyte layer, and their 3,) fused
basement membrane.
Figure 6: renal, corpuscle, kidney,
monkey 400x  Capillary endothelium – or
endothelial cells that have thousands
of small pores called fenestra. The
size of pore is about 60-80 nm.
They provide free passage to plasma,
but restrict the blood cells.

 Fused basement membrane – it is

composed mainly of collagen type
fibres and glycoproteins like
heparan sulphate. It is porous, with
a pore size of about 8 nm, and it is
made up of three (3) layers: an inner
thin layer, called lamina rara interna;
a thick layer called lamina densa;
and an outer thin layer called lamina
Figure 6.1: renal, corpuscle, kidney, cat rara externa. It allows free passage
250x of water and small molecules, but it
prevents filtration of plasma
proteins.
 Podocyte layer – Podocytes are  Extraglomerular mesangial cells –
named podocytes because they have Lies outside the glomerulus
foot processes extending from cell
bodies. Foot processes of adjacent
podocytes interdigitate with each
other and form the filtration barrier.
There is a gap between these foot
processes, called filtration slit. It is
approximately 25nm wide. It has
membrane bound proteins like
nephrin, and podocin.

 Bowman's space is continuous with

the proximal convoluted tubule.

Blood enters the renal corpuscle via

afferent arterioles and then leaves via
efferent arterioles. The part of the renal
corpuscle where afferent and efferent
arterioles are located is known as the
vascular pole. Wherein afferent and
efferent arterioles of glomerulus are
situated. On the opposite end of the
vascular pole is where the renal tubule
begins and is known as the urinary pole.
Where the ultrafiltrate exits the PROXIMAL CONVOLUTED
Bowman’s space into a proximal TUBULE
convoluted tubule.
This is the twist and turns and is located
Mesangial cells can also be found in the cortical labyrinth and is the first
within the glomerulus. These cells renal tubule segment; it starts at the
secrete a matrix of basement membrane- glomerulus' urinary pole. The majority
like material to support the structure of of the glomerular filtrate (65%) is
the glomerulus. It is also responsible for reabsorbed here. The tubule's
phagocytosis, production of mesengial convoluted section leads to a straight
matrix, maintenance of capillary loops section that enters the medulla within a
and the blood flow. It can be divided medullary ray and develops into the loop
into two (2) groups: of Henle.

 Intraglomerular mesangial cells – The proximal convoluted tubule’s lining

Lies within the glomerulus; provide epithelium is simple cuboidal with brush
structural support to the glomerulus; border. Its brush border structure has an
they are contractile–by contraction unique appearance due to the several
and relaxation they can alter the microvilli on the apical cell membrane
total surface area available for of cuboidal cells. Thus, the cuboidal
glomerular filtration and thereby cells have an eosinophilic granular
can regulate the rate of glomerular cytoplasm.
filtration; they also have phagocytic
activity; they secrete prostaglandins;
and also secrete the extracellular
matrix.
 found between proximal convoluted
tubule and distal convoluted tubule.
2 types of nephron with different loop
of Henle
 Cortical nephrons - shorter,
extends only to the outer medulla.
Performs excretory and regulatory
functions of a kidney.
 Juxtamedullary nephrons - longer,
extends to the deeper renal medulla.
Longer due to vital role in
concentrating urea, involved in the
process of counter multiplication
which enables the interstitial fluid to
become more concentrated. Increase
in osmolarity the deeper it goes in
medulla.

Figure 7: afferent arteriole, kidney, pig

250x

4 Segments of loop of Henle

 Pars recta (straight descending limb
of proximal tubule).
Figure 7.1: cortex, kidney, horse 250x  Thin descending limb
 Thin ascending limb
 Thick ascending limb
Thin parts of Loop of Henle are lined by
simple squamous epithelium. The
descending limb is permeable to water
LOOP OF HENLE than salt while the ascending limb is
more permeable to salt than water.
U shaped or hair-pin structure that dips
down to medulla. It creates high osmotic
pressure in the renal medulla via the
countercurrent multiplier system. High
osmotic pressure is important for the
reabsorption of water in the later
segments of renal tube. Loop of Henle is
 of ions such as potassium and protons
occur in this segment.
It responds to reabsorption of water and
sodium that causes excretion of
potassium.
Selectively secrete and absorb different
ions to maintain blood pH and
electrolytes balance. For example pumps
ions against their concentration gradient.
The initial segment of the distal
convoluted tubule lies right next to the
glomerulus and forms the
juxtaglomerular apparatus.
Distal convoluted tubule is composed of
Figure 8: pars radiata, cortex, kidney,
simple cuboidal epithelium and is
horse 250x
located at the cortex and
corticomedullary junction. DCT has no
brush border and has a more prominent
lumen than proximal convoluted tubule.

Figure 8.1: medulla, kidney, horse 250x

Figure 9: cortex, kidney, horse, 125x

DISTAL CONVOLUTED TUBULE

The distal convoluted tubule is shorter

and less convoluted than the proximal
convoluted tubule. Reabsorption ions
mainly sodium, chloride, bicarbonate,
and calcium ions occur. Also secretion
 that has a great role in maintaining the
blood pressure.
The Juxtaglomerular Apparatus is
formed by 3 Structures:
 Macula densa cells of tubule
 Juxtaglomerular or granular cells of
afferent arteriole
 Extraglomerular mesengial cells
Macula Densa
 Are specialized epithelial cells.
 Taller, closely packed, and has a
larger nuclei than the rest of
epithelium due to that they have a
Figure 8.1: cortex, kidney, pig, 125x plaque-like appearance.
 Macula densa senses the sodium
and potassium load at luminal fluid
that trigger renin release from
granular cells.
Juxtaglomerular or Granular cells
 Specialized smooth muscle cells if
afferent arteriole
 Produce, store, and release renin.
 Contain large amounts of renin
secreting granules, because of that
they are called granular cells.
 Granular cells sense the blood
pressure and trigger renin release.
( Renin was released if the blood
pressure was too low.)
Extraglomerular mesangial cells
 Also known as lacis cells, agranular
Figure 8.2: Distal convoluted tubule cells, or goormaghtigh cells
zoomed in  Cells are fixed and located in the
space between afferent and efferent
JUXTAGLOMERULAR arterioles, and the glomerular
APPARATUS capillaries.
 It is said that currently its function
Formed by the distal convoluted tubule is unclear. However it is known for
and the glomerular afferent arteriole. It giving structures to glomerular
is located near the vascular pole of the capillaries as stabilizers.
glomerulus.

Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
occurs in a juxtaglomerular apparatus
 RENAL PELVIS AND URETER

COLLECTING DUCTS In the renal pelvis, numerous collecting

ducts are merged that then will become
Connecting segments fuse with the the ureter. The ureter is characterized by
initial collecting tubule in the cortical being a muscular tube and composed of
labyrinth and these fuse with the cortical an inner longitudinal layer and an outer
collecting duct in the medullary rays. circular layer. Transitional epithelium,
The lining epithelium of collecting ducts which also can be called as urothelium,
is simple cuboidal, and characterized is covering the lumen of the ureter. The
with clear lateral demarcation between transitional epithelium is unique to the
neighboring epithelial cells. These conducting passages of the urinary
collecting ducts extend towards the renal system. The dilation of the conducting
papillae and the renal calyx. And passages when necessary is possible or
collecting ducts that are placed at the tip allowed because of its ability to stretch.
of medullary pyramids are called ducts And the kidney and the urinary bladder
of Bellini. are connected by the ureter.
The terminal portion of the distal tubule
empties through collecting tubules into a
straight collecting duct in the medullary
ray. The antidiuretic hormone (ADH) is
in charge of collecting the duct system.
This collecting duct becomes permeable
to water when ADH is present. The high
osmotic pressure in the medulla that is
generated by the countercurrent
multiplier system/loop Henle, will then
draw out water from the renal tubule,
back to the vasa recta.
Figure 9: ureter, rat 400x
It also provides a functional tubular
network, there are two types of cells in
the collecting ducts: the principal cells
and intercaleted cells.
  Urothelium (transitional epithelium)
- These are the lines in the interior
of the ureter and is impermeable to
water and ions.

Umbrella Cells - the top layer of

cells which changes in size and shape
depending on the distention of the ureter.

Figure 9.1: ureter, cat 625x

Figure 9.3: urothelium, ureter, rat 400x

Figure 9.2: ureter, horse 125x

Figure 9.4: umbrella cells, rat 400x

The aforementioned lumen of ureter is
stellate shaped and the wall is comprises  Lamina Propria - These are the
of the following layers from inside to dense fibro-elastic connective tissue
outside: that supports the Urothelium. It is
 made up of blood vessels, nerves ureter, which is like the external
and glands. surface of the ureter.

Figure 9.7: adventitia, ureter, rat 15x

URINARY BLADDER

The urine that empties from the ureter

then goes into the bladder. The
transitional epithelium continues over
the surface of this organ. The muscular
Figure 9.5: lamina propria, ureter, rat layers that are thickened become
400x interwoven and cannot be recognised or
identified at this point. Moreover,
 Muscularis Propria - It contains 2- histological details of the urinary
3 layers of smooth muscles, and bladder are the same with the ureter
when these contracts, they will except that the lumina muscularis is
pump urine from the kidney to the present as a small isolated bundle of
urinary bladder. smooth muscles. Also the tunica
muscularis is thick and the muscles are
collectively termed as Detrusor muscle.

FIgure 9.6: muscularis propria, ureter,

rat 400x

 Adventitia - this is the loose

connective tissue that covers the
 3. Tunica muscularis - Composed of
inner and outer longitudinal and a
middle circular layer of smooth
muscles as in bladder but towards
the external urethral orifice, it
acquires an external layer of skeletal
muscle termed Urethralis muscle.
4. Tunica serosa/adventitia - It is a
fibrous layer

Figure 10: urinary bladder, pig, 125x

AVIAN
The two reddish-brown kidneys of the
Figure 10.2: urinary bladder, cow, domestic fowl, each generally with three
12.5x lobes, are found immediately behind the
lungs on each side of the vertebral
column and closely associated with it
The kidney of bird is flattened organs
embedded in ventral surface of
synsacrum bone and each incompletely
URETHRA divided into three lobes; cranial, middle
and wider-largest caudal lobes. Avian
The urine from the urinary bladder will kidney lobes are showing subdivion;
then be carried by the urethra out of the into units called lobules. Each lobule has
body. Wherein, in males, it is joined by a cortex and medulla
the genital system. The epithelium
changes from transitional to stratified or
pseudostratified columnar in the urethra,
and to stratified squamous in the distal
end of the urethra. Furthermore, the
urethra is comprises with four layers:

1. Tunica mucosa - It is an epithelium

that is transitional but changes to
stratified squamous at the external
urethral orifice.
2. Tunica submucosa - A connective
tissue layer that has also cavernous
spaces that are typical of erectile Figure 1: Ventral view of the kidneys of a female
tissue. rock dove. Cranial division (C); micidle division
(MI; caudal division (D); follicle (F).
Histologically, the kidneys of all studied
birds consisted of two zones, the cortex
and medulla. The cortex made up the
vast area of the kidney with only a small
portion being medulla. The cortex and
the medulla were arranged in cones of
different lengths, which were distributed
randomly within the kidney. This feature
is similar to other species. It would
appear that the avian medullary cones
are structurally similar (analogous) to
the outer medulla of mammal kidneys Figure 3: Photomicrograph of the kidney of rock
dove. Proximal tubule (PI; distal tubule (D);
The majority of nephrons were without a cortical collecting tubule (C); macula densa
loop of Henle and were restricted (arrow) (H & E x 640).
entirely to the cortex. The proximal
tubule fomed into a thin descending
limb of Henle at the corticomedullary
boundary and descended into the
medulla.

Figure 4: Photomicrograph of the kidney of

collared dove, showing the concentric
arrangement of distal tubule (D) around the
intralobular vein (V). Proximal tubule (PI; brush
border (arrow); cortical collecting tubule (C);
glomerulus (G) (PAS-Al x 320).
Figure 2: Photomicrograph of the kidney of
collared dove, showing glomerulus (G); proximal
tubule (P); distal tubule (D); urinary space (U);
Within the cortex, most nephron tubules
mesangial cells (arrow) (H & E x 640). were distributed randomly, except for
The renal corpuscle consisted of an the glomeruli which occurred most
outer Bowman’s capsule separated by commonly in the peripheral cortex and
Bowman’s space from a centrally the majority of distal tubules which were
located glomerulus. The glomeruli clustered around the intralobular vein
consisted of tightly packed central core (Fig. 4).
of mesangial cells, surrounded by
capillary loops (Fig. 2).
 to secrete mucin, which may aid in
eliminating uric acid from the kidney

Figure 5: Photomicrograph of the kidney of owl

in transverse section. Cortex (CO); medullary
cone (MC); thick limb of Henle (T); proximal
tubule (P); brush border (arrow) ; connective Figure 6: Photomicrograph of the medullary
tissue sheath (CT) (PAS-AL x 320). cone in the kidney of collared dove, showing the
arrangement of tubules within the cone. Thick
The proximal and distal tubules limb of Henle (T), medullary collecting ducta (M);
consisted of a cuboidal epithelium (Fig. thin limb of Henle (arrows) (PAS-Al x 640)
2, 3, 4). The luminal surface area of the
proximal tubule was enhanced by a thick Medullary nephron tubules were
layer of microvilli forming a brush arranged in a sequential manner. Thick
border (Fig. 2, 4, 5). Wide intercellular and thin limbs of Henle were separated
spaces coupled with extensive cell by the collecting ducts. Thick limbs
membrane infolding in proximal tubule were restricted to the periphery of the
are a characteristic of cells that have a medullary cone and surrounded a ring of
high ion and water reabsorption capacity. collecting ducts, which in turn
The avian proximal tubule absorbs about surrounded a few number of thin limbs.
70% of the filtered volume of water, The thin and thick limbs consisted of
which depends on active reabsorption. simple cuboidal epithelium (Fig. 5, 6).
In the avian nephron, absorption, of
sodium chloride from the distal tubule The countercurrent multiplier
may, in some instance, proceed without mechanism operates between the
water reabsorption, further increasing descending and ascending limbs of
the concentration gradient along the Henle via recycling of a single solute
length of the nephron tubule and thus (NaC1) with no water accompaniment,
allowing water to be reabsorbed distally forming an osmotic gradient along the
along the nephron at the medullary medullary cone. The cortical collecting
collecting ducts. duct continued into the medulla as the
medullary collecting duct. The
The cortical collecting tubule consisted medullary collecting duct consisted of a
of a cuboidal epithelium. The cytoplasm proximal segment and a distal papillary
of each cell contained a basal nucleus duct which consisted of a columnar
and mucopolysaccharide in the epithelium. The cytoplasm of each cell
cytoplasm of the cell. (Fig. 4, 5). As contained a basal nucleus and
with the distal tubules, the cortical mucopolysaccharide (Fig. 5, 6). Role of
collecting tubules also play a role in the medullary collecting duct is
producing concentrated urine by reabsorption of water and possibly some
reabsorbing water from the tubular sodium from the tubule. Possible
lumen. In addition, they are also known differences in the urinary concentrating
ability of species from different zones
may be the result of differences in the part of the body kidney (Kd). (F). The
proportion of cortex and medulla. two ureters (Wolffian ducts) (1, 2)
Previous studies have demonstrated that joining together and joined together
and zone birds have a high volume of shown in G, H. The urinary bladder (Bl)
renal medulla than mesic zone birds. in the rear part of the body cavity. (I)
The flattened epithelium (Ep) lining the
bladder. (J) Position of the ureter (Ur)
FISH below the rectum (Re) just before the
opening to the outside. K. Anatomy of
the ureter (Ur). L. The epithelium of the
ureter is composed of columnar cells
lined with microvilli (Mic). Bv, blood
vessel; Ov, ovary; Sb, swim bladder.

Anatomy and histology of the kidney

and the appropriate ducts in
Eigenmannia virescens (Sternopygidae,
Gymnotiformes) shown in cross sections
and a sagittal section (E). Azan stain. A.
Head kidney (Hk) below the swim
bladder (Sb) and above the oesophagus
(Oe). B. Body kidney (Kd) filling the
large space between the anterior (Sb1)
and posterior (Sb2) swim bladder. c.
Posterior part of the body kidney (Kd)
with just a few nephrons and tubules and
two large veins. d. Proximal part of the
body kidney showing the large caudal Details of the nephrons of various
vein (Cv) and two ureters (Ur and Ur1) freshwater teleosts. Azan stain. A, B.
at the periphery of the kidney. (E) Malphigian bodies and the connecting
Caudal vein (Cv) entering the posterior blood vessel in the knife fish
Eigenmannia virescens. An aggregatioin
of macrophages (Ma) is also seen in A. Many studies focus on part of kidney
c. Glomerulus (Gl) and the nearby neck which is found in males only and is
segment (Ns) and proximal (Pt) and called a Sexual Segment which is
distal tubules (Dt) in the knife fish modify in renal channels in lizards and
Gymnotus carapo. d. Detail of a snakes. Interest in studying the kidney in
glomerulus (Gl), the neck segment (Ns), reptiles increased because of their vital
podocytes (Pd), and Bowman’s capsule role for these animals. Renal units
(Bc) in the knife fish Gymnotus carapo. ornephrone sof kidney reptiles consist of
E. Detail of a glomerulus (Gl), renal corpuscles, glomeruli, distal
podocytes (Pd), and Bowman’s capsule convoluted tubules, proximal convoluted
(Bc) in the knife fish Rhamphichthys sp. tubules and the collecting tubules.
A juxtaglomerular cell (Ja) and Human kidney contains about two
lymphocytes are also present. Capillaries million functional unit nephrons, while
(Ca), part of the capillary loops, are also thekidney of reptiles contains a few
seen in the glomerulus. F. An number of nephrones ranging from
arrangement of a Malphigian body, (1500-6000) functional unit.
proximal (Pt) and distal tubules (Dt) in
Gymnotus carapo. G. Proximal (Pt) and The kidney consists of the two regions
distal tubules (Dt) in the Zebrafish the peripheral region called the cortex
Danio rerio. Note the distal tubule with and contains a small number of renal
small lumen and large cuboidal cells units (nephrons) which is represented by
with light cytoplasm. Lymphocytes (Ly) proximal convoluted tubules, distal
are also seen. H. Arrangement of a convoluted tubules in addition to
glomerulus (Gl) with proximal (Pt) and glomeruli with a bowman's capsule, and
distal tubules (Dt) in Rhamphichthys sp. the other region is medulla. The cortex
Bl, blood vessel; Gl, glomerulus; Hp, and medulla regions are not separated
hematopoietic tissue. by distinct border (Figure 1-6)

REPTILES
The kidney are located in abdominal
cavity and receive blood from the
paired renal arteries and drain into the
paired renal veins. The kidney plays an
important role as one of the necessary
organs of the body of animals where the
infiltration of blood and secretion of
waste object, as well as urine excretion
through the ureter to the Urinary
Bladder, Where the water leak a Urine
in mammals and as auric acid in reptiles.
Figure 1: T.S. of kidney in snake
The kidney is also has the function of Eryxgaculusgaculus. Notice: Cortex (C), Medulla
(M), Capsule (CA), (H & E). 10x.
endocrine secretion, where secrete
Erythropoietin which stimulates the
Results showed that the kidney is
production of red blood cells
surrounded by a thin capsule of fibrous
(Erythrocytes) in the bone marrow, as
connective tissue
well as the production of reninenzyme
which helps regulate blood pressure.
 Proximal convoluted tubule
The epithelial tissue of this tubule is
composed of simple cuboidal epithelial
tissue and has a small cavity, and its
cells containing a brush border in the
free surface of the cells. The cytoplasm
of the cells is Light-colored the nucleus
of the cells are dark-colored and a
central location. The lumen of the
proximal tubule is often occulted by
apposition of the brush borders of the
surrounding cells. (Figure 4).
Figure 2: T.S. through of kidney in snake
Eryxgaculusgaculus. Notice: Glomerulus (G),
(H & E). 10x.

Renal corpuscle
The renal corpuscles in the kidney of
snake was deployed within the cortex
and are small spherical structures
consists of glomerulus and Bowman’s
capsule the glomeruli were various sizes
and are surrounded by the Bowman's
capsule which composed of two layers,
the parietal layer is (capsular epithelium)
composed of simple squamous epithelial Figure 4: T.S. through of kidney in snake
Eryxgaculusgaculus. Notice: Proximal convoluted
tissue and visceral layer (glomerular tubule (PCT), Distal convoluted tubule (DCT),
epithelium) and the space shows Glomerulus (G). (H & E), 40x.
between visceral layer and parietal layer
is called capsular space (Bowman’s Distal convoluted tubule
capsule) and glomerulus (Fig 3). The lining of the distal convoluted
tubule be composed simple cuboidal
epithelial tissue where cells contain
nuclei of a central location, a dark
character, and the apical surface of the
cells was not covered by brush border
and of microvilli the lumen of the distal
convoluted tubule was larger than the
lumen proximal convoluted tubule
(Figure 4).

Figure 3: T.S. of kidney in snake

Eryxgaculusgaculus. Notice: Bowman’s capsule
(BC), Capsule space (CS), Blood vessel glomeruli
(BVG), (H & E). 40x
Figure 5: T.S. of kidney in snake
Eryxgaculusgaculus. Notice: Proximal
convoluted tubule (PCT), Proximal convoluted
tubule (DCT), Collecting tubule (CT). (H & E)

Figure 6: T.S. of kidney in snake

Eryxgaculusgaculus. Notice: Arterioles (AR) in
the cortex. (H & E), 100x
  Navadiya, V. (2017).
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