Kidney anatomy

The nephron is the minute or microscopic structural and functional unit of the kidney. It is composed of a renal corpuscle and a renal tubule. The renal corpuscle consists of a tuft of capillaries called a glomerulus and a cup-shaped structure called Bowman's capsule. The renal tubule extends from the capsule. The capsule and tubule are connected and are composed of epithelial cells with a lumen. A healthy adult has 1 to 1.5 million nephrons in each kidney. Blood is filtered as it passes through three layers: the endothelial cells of the capillary wall, its basement membrane, and between the p

functional unit of nephron

kidney structure which encloses the glomerular

basin-like or funnel-like dilated proximal part of the ureter in the kidney

section of kidney tissue

structure in the kidney that regulates the function of each nephron

Podocytes are cells in Bowman's capsule in the kidneys that wrap around capillaries of the glomerulus. Podocytes make up the epithelial lining of Bowman's capsule, the third layer through which filtration of blood takes place. Bowman's capsule filters the blood, retaining large molecules such as proteins while smaller molecules such as water, salts, and sugars are filtered as the first step in the formation of urine. Although various viscera have epithelial layers, the name visceral epithelial cells usually refers specifically to podocytes, which are specialized epithelial cells that reside in

kidney functional structural unit

a region of juxtaglomerular apparatus

series of tubules and ducts in the kidney that physically connect nephrons to a minor calyx or directly to the renal pelvis

cell type

kidney structure

blood vessel that supplies the glomeruli of the kidney

anatomical structure in kidneys

hylus of the kidney

blood vessels that are part of the urinary tract of organisms

portion of the kidney nephron between the loop of Henle and the collecting duct

part of the kidney

the outer portion of the kidney

fibrous layer surrounding the kidney

extention of the Cortex into the Medulla

kidney blood supply

artery

kidney structure

cone-shaped tissue of the kidney

connective‑tissue envelope of kidney/adrenal; includes the anterior renal fascia (Gerota) and posterior renal fascia (Zuckerkandl); laterally forms lateroconal fascia

part of the filtration apparatus of the kidney

in the kidney

blood vessels

circulation of the blood through the vessels of the kidney

anatomical structure

blood vessels

also known by the Latin term pars descendens ansa nephrica

tiny blood vessels, supplied by the efferent arteriole, that travel alongside nephrons allowing reabsorption and secretion between blood and the inner lumen of the nephron; capillaries that surround the renal tubule

blood vessels

congenital disorder describing a kidney that is not located in its usual position

blood vessels

middle part of the cortical lobule or renal lobule

cavity within the kidney