Urinary System Histology Quiz

Study Notes

The urinary system is responsible for urine formation, waste product removal, hormone production (renin and erythropoietin), and regulation of water and electrolytes.
The kidneys are the primary organs of the urinary system.
Each kidney contains a renal cortex and a renal medulla.
The renal cortex is granular and consists of renal corpuscles, proximal convoluted tubules, and distal convoluted tubules.
The renal medulla is striated and contains loops of Henle and collecting tubules.
Nephrons are the structural and functional units of the kidney, producing urine.
Collecting ducts concentrate urine.

Each nephron consists of a Malpighian corpuscle, a proximal convoluted tubule, a loop of Henle, and a distal convoluted tubule.
The Malpighian corpuscle is found in the cortex and is composed of a glomerulus and Bowman's capsule.

The glomerulus is a tuft of anastomosing capillaries formed from the afferent arteriole.
The glomerular capillaries are lined by fenestrated endothelium and rest on a thick basement membrane.
Intraglomerular mesangial cells provide support to the capillaries.
Bowman's capsule surrounds the glomerulus and has two layers - a parietal layer lined by simple squamous epithelium and a visceral layer lined by podocytes.
The space between the parietal and visceral layers is called the capsular space.

Podocytes are specialized cells with multiple processes that surround glomerular capillaries.
They are separated from the capillaries by a subpodocytic space.
Podocytes have primary and secondary processes, which are composed of microtubules and microfilaments.
Filtration slits, covered by diaphragms, are located between the foot processes of podocytes.

This barrier is responsible for the formation of glomerular filtrate.
It consists of three layers: fenestrated endothelium of blood capillaries, a thick basement membrane, and filtration slits with their covering diaphragms.

Image 1: Identifies the structure as a kidney.
Image 1, Number 1: This is the renal cortex, which contains the nephrons.
Image 1, Number 2: This is the renal medulla, which is located inside the cortex and contains the loops of Henle and collecting tubules.