Structure of the kidney

What is the cortex?

Dark outer layer, filtering of the blood happens here and it has a dense capillary network carrying blood from the renal artery to the nephrons

What is the medulla?

Lighter in colour - contains tubules of the nephrons that form the pyramids of the kidney and collecting ducts

What does the pelvis do?

Central. chamber where the urine collects before passing out down the ureter

What is the Bowman’s Capsule?

Contains the glomerulus, a tangle of capillaries. More blood goes into the glomerulus than leaves it due to the ultrafiltration processes that occur

What is the proximal convulted tubule?

First coiled region of the tubule after the Bowman’s capsule in the cortex of the kidney. many substances needed by the body are reabsorbed into the blood

What is the loop of henle?

Long tubule loop that creates v high solute conc in the tissue fluid in medulla. Descending loop runs from cortex thru medulla to a bend at bottom of loop. Ascending loop travels back up through the medulla to the cortex

What is the distal convoluted tubule?

A second twisted tubule when water balancing occurs. Permeability of the walls to water varies in response to levels of ADH. Further regulation of ion balance and pH of blood occurs here

What is the collecting duct?

Urine passes down the collecting duct thru the medulla to the pelvis where more fine tuning of water balancing occurs. Walls of this tubule are sensitive to ADh