Anatomy and Histology

of the Kidney IS

Dr. Monika Zimanyi

Senior Lecturer
Department of Anatomy and Pathology
School of Medicine and Dentistry
James Cook University

monika.zimanyi@jcu.edu.au
Objectives
After attending this lecture on “Anatomy and Histology of the Kidney”, students will be
able to:
• Describe the location, structure and function of the kidney
• Describe the flow of blood through the kidney
• Describe the [microscopic] anatomy of a nephron (renal corpuscle and tubules)
 The Urinary System
• Kidneys
• Ureters
• Bladder
• Urethra
 The Kidneys
• Paired organs that lie retroperitoneally
on the posterior abdominal wall
• Right kidney lies inferior to left kidney

• Laterally convex, medially concave

• Hilum – renal artery, vein and pelvis

- Right renal artery is longer than the left

- Left renal vein is longer than the right
- Atop each kidney is an adrenal (or
suprarenal gland)
Coronal Section Through a Kidney
• Three regions:
• Cortex – pale and contain nephrons
• Medulla – dark red and contains renal
pyramids that carry tubules. The renal
columns carry blood vessels and lie between
pyramids
• Pelvis - continuous with the ureter. Branching
extensions of the pelvis form major calyces,
each of which subdivides to form several
minor calyces & enclose the papillae.
The calyces collect urine, which drains
continuously from the papillae
• The walls of the calyces, pelvis & ureter
contain smooth muscles, which contracts
rhythmically and propels urine along by
peristalsis
Kidney Functions
• Production of urine
• Excretion of metabolic wastes
• Regulation of water and acid-base
balance
• Regulation of body fluid osmolarity and
electrolyte concentrations
• Regulation of arterial pressure
• Secretion of hormones
• Erythropoetin - haemopoiesis
• Renin - blood pressure regulation
Blood Supply/Venous Drainage
• Kidneys have a rich blood supply Interlobar artery Arcuate artery

• Renal arteries deliver approx. 25% Segmental artery Interlobular artery

of the total cardiac output
• Renal arteries arise at right angles Renal artery
Afferent arteriole
to the aorta
• Five segmental arteries enter the
hilum
Glomerulus
• Each segmental artery divides into
several interlobar arteries
• At the medulla-cortex junction, the
interlobar arteries branch into the
*
arcuate arteries Efferent arteriole

• Small interlobular arteries radiate

outward from the arcuate arteries Renal vein
Interlobular vein

Interlobar vein Arcuate vein

Organisation
• Cortex – outer part of the kidney
• Medulla – inner part, comprises
renal pyramid and renal columns
• Arcuate arteries lie between the
cortex and medulla
• Collecting ducts collect and open
into papilla
• Papilla opens into minor calyx
• Minor calyx opens into major
calyx
• Major calyx opens into renal
pelvix, which is continuous with
ureter

Young et al (2014) Wheater’s Functional Histology

The Nephron
• Functional unit
• Two parts:
• Corpuscle
• Tubule

Young et al (2014) Wheater’s Functional Histology

The Renal Corpuscle
• Corpuscle
• Glomerulus
• Bowman’s capsule
• The two arterioles penetrate Bowman's capsule at vascular pole
• Opposite is urinary pole, where the proximal convoluted tubule arises
• Bowman’s capsule has parietal and visceral epithelia – parietal layer is simple squamous
• The visceral layer lines the glomerular capillaries and is comprised of podocytes

Young et al (2014) Wheater’s Functional Histology

The Glomerulus

Young et al (2014) Wheater’s Functional Histology

Cells of Glomeruli
• Mesangial cells - structurally supports
the glomerular tuft. Secretory cells that
produce growth factors and matrix proteins

• Podocytes - parietal cells lining the

capillaries, support the glomerular tuft
and form part of filtration barrier

• Endothelial cells – line capillaries and

form part of filtration barrier with
fenstrations (pores)
The Glomerulus
• Plasma filtered through glomerular
capillaries
• Fenestrated endothelium
• Basement membrane
• Podocytes

http://slideplayer.com/slide/7243607/
Summary of Previous Slide
• The endothelium is fenestrated (porous) and allow solute-rich, virtually protein-free
fluid to pass form blood into capsule
• The filtrate is processes by the renal tubules to form urine
• The parietal layer contributes to the structure of the capsule but for involved in
filtration
• The visceral layer (podocytes) terminate in foot processes, which cling to the basement
membrane and the openings between the foot processes are called filtration slits. The
filtration slits allow the filtrate to pass into the glomerular capsule
• The filtrate then enters the proximal convoluted tubule
• This filtration membrane allows free passage of water and solutes but excludes proteins
and blood cells to pass through
Ultrastructure

Young et al (2014) Wheater’s Functional Histology

The Tubules
• Tubule
• Proximal convoluted tubule
• Loop of Henle
• Thick and thin descending limbs
• Thick and thin ascending limbs
• Distal convoluted tubule

Young et al (2014) Wheater’s Functional Histology

Proximal Convoluted Tubules
• Simple cuboidal epithelium
• Apical cell surface has prominent brush
border
• Plays major role in absorption of tubular
contents

Kerr J.B. (2010) Functional Histology

Loop of Henle
• Juxtamedullary nephrons have particularly
long loops of Henle which extend deep
into medulla
• Involved in water retention
• Different regions of the loop have
different permeabilities to water

Kerr J.B. (2010) Functional Histology

 Distal Convoluted Tubules
• The last segment of the nephron
• No brush border
• Site of ion exchange
• Site of salt and water regulation
• Important role also in acid-base balance

Kerr J.B. (2010) Functional Histology

Macula Densa

Young et al (2014) Wheater’s Functional Histology

Summary of Previous Slide
• Juxtaglomerular apparatus = macula densa
• The macula densa is a specialized structure formed by the distal convoluted tubule and
the glomerular afferent arteriole
• Lies near the vascular pole of the glomerulus
• Its main function is to regulate blood pressure and the filtration rate of the glomerulus
• The macula densa is a collection of specialized epithelial cells that detect sodium
concentration of the fluid in the distal convoluted tubule.
• Elevated sodium results in the macula densa cells contracting the afferent arteriole,
which reduces flow of blood to the glomerulus and so glomerular filtration rate
• The juxtaglomerular cells, secrete renin when blood pressure falls
• Renin increases blood pressure via the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
Collecting Duct
• Not a part of nephron, but connects to
nephron during development
• Nephron + collecting duct = uriniferous
tubule
• Major role in urine-concentrating
mechanism
• Hypertonic urine leaves collecting ducts &
drains into minor calyces

Kerr J.B. (2010) Functional Histology

Renal Papilla
• Collecting ducts drain into the minor
calyx via the renal papilla

Renal pyramid

Minor calyx

Transitional epi.

Kerr J.B. (2010) Functional Histology

Blood Supply
• The arteriolae rectae is a direct
continuation of the efferent arteriole
• Vasa recta follows along the same
nephronic loop from which the efferent
arteriole exited
• Capillaries of vasa recta are made of
thin, fenestrated endothelial cells

http://anatomy.iupui.edu/courses/histo_D502/D502f04/
lecture.f04/urinaryf04/C44-21C.jpg