HTC101 - Urinary System

Outer cortex of kidney

Contains renal corpuscles, proximal and distal convoluted tubules, and cortical collecting ducts

Inner medulla of kidney

Contains renal lobes and leads into the renal pelvis

Renal pyramids

Meets the cortex at the corticomedullary junction

Nephron

Functional unit of the kidney, composed of the corpuscle and tubules

Glomerulus

Part of the nephron’s corpuscle: network of capillaries where blood filtration begins, cluster of fenestrated capillaries

Bowman’s capsule

Encloses the glomerulus and collects filtrate, composed of simple squamous epithelium

Proximal convoluted tubule

Reabsorbs water/ions/nutrients from the filtrate, simple cuboidal epithelium with prominent microvilli

Loop of Henle

Reabsorbs water when descending and salts when ascending. Simple cuboidal epithelium in proximal tubule, simple squamous epithelium in thin segments

Distal convoluted tubules

Reabsorbs more ions and water, simple cuboidal epithelium with fewer microvilli compared to proximal tubule

Collecting ducts

Finishes urine concentration by reabsorbing water and secreting ions, forming urine that drains into renal pelvis