• Renal capsule
  • WHAT: fibrous connective tissue
  • WHERE: most outer layer of the kidney
  • WHY: supports kidney and prevents injury
• Renal cortex: 
  • WHAT: contains a space filled with blood vessels
  • WHERE: underneath the renal capsule, above medulla
  • WHY: reabsorbs filtered material, provides a space for arteries and veins to provide blood flow to the nephrons
• Renal medulla
  • WHAT: contains bulk of nephron structures called renal pyramids
  • WHERE: innermost layer of the kidney
  • WHY: (nephrons) provide filtering for the kidney
• Renal pyramids
  • WHAT: dense nephron structures, conical shape inside kidney
  • WHERE: in the renal medulla
  • WHY: allows filtration of kidney
• Renal columns
  • WHAT: connective tissue that separates medullary pyramids
  • WHERE: in between medullary pyramids
  • WHY: provides a better anchor for renal cortex like a “column”

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