HISTOLOGY OF THE

URINARY SYSTEM
 Nephron
1. Bowman's capsule - blindly ending tubule
indented by glomerular capillary.

2. Proximal thick segment

a. Proximal convoluted tubule
b. Proximal straight segment

3. Thin limb

4. Distal thick segment

a. Distal straight segment
b. Distal convoluted segment
 Renal Corpuscle
Provides for filtration of plasma from glomerular capillary.
• Glomerular capillary - fenestrated endothelium with open
fenestrae.
• Bowman's capsule - encloses urinary space which contains
provisional urine
 Bowman's Capsule
• Parietal or capsular layer - simple squamous epithelium

• Visceral layer - podocytes with interdigitating pedicles

foot processes) separated by slit pores spanned by slit
membranes.
 Filtration Barrier
1. glomerular endothelium

2. basement membrane (type IV collagen, heparan

sulfate, laminin, fibronectin)

3. slit membrane between pedicels of podocytes

Renal Corpuscle and the Filtration Membrane

Figure 23.6a
Renal Corpuscle and the Filtration
Membrane

Figure 23.6c
Tubular system of the
Nephron
Proximal tubule - convoluted and straight portions.
• Functions - recovery of 80% of glomerular filtrate -
water, ions, glucose, amino acids, small proteins.
• Active transport of Na and Cl with water following;
pericellular and transcellular routes. Secretion of
creatinine, some dyes and drugs.
 Nephron - Proximal Tubule
Simple cuboidal epithelium
a. Well developed brush border (apical microvilli),
contains peptidases.
b. Basal striations and lateral interdigitations.
c. Prominent endocytotic apparatus with pinocytic
vesicles, vacuoles, and lysosomes.
Proximal tubule - convoluted and straight portions.
Simple squamous epithelium
with close proximity to vasa
rectae.
 Distal Tubule
Straight and convoluted
portions.
 Nephron - Distal Tubule
Straight and convoluted portions.
1. Simple cuboidal epithelium with few short apical
microvilli (no brush border).
2. Extensive system of lateral interdigitations and basal
striations with associated mitochondria.
3. Very little endocytotic activity but active transport of
Na+ continues. Also reabsorbs bicarbonate.
4. Close proximity to peritubular capillaries.
 Nephron - Distal Tubule
Macula densa - group of tall narrow cells in wall of distal
tubule at site of contact with afferent (and efferent)
arterioles.
Arched (initial) collecting
tubules empty into
straight collecting ducts.
 Excretory Passages
Lined with transitional epithelium in minor calyces,
major calyces, renal pelvis, ureter and bladder.

Walls gradually thicken as passages near the

bladder.
Transitional epithelia
Transitional epithelia changes depending on
how full the urinary bladder is
END