The Kidneys and Endocrine System

The Kidneys and endocrine system

• Assistant Professor Chantal Hensley, College of Central Florida CVT Program

Kidney Functions

• Fluid regulation

• Blood Pressure regulation

• Filtering and waste removal

Basic Renal Anatomy

• Cortex

• Medulla

• Renal Artery

• Renal Vein

• Cortical glomerulus

• Juxtamedullary glomerulus

• Minor calyx

• Major calyx

• Renal Pelvis (Kidney pelvis)

• Ureter

• Capsule

Renal Cortex

• Outer layer of kidney

• Surrounds medulla

• Nephrons begin here

Medulla

• Inner part of kidney

• Made of renal pyramids

• Maintains fluid homeostasis

• Maintains electrolyte balance

Minor and Major Calyxes

• Small cup shaped collection chamber

• Collects from renal papillae

• Urine flows in major calyx

Renal Pelvis

• Center of kidney

• Funnel shaped part of ureter attached to kidney

Nephrons

• Where the work happens

• Around a million nephrons per kidney

• Most located in renal cortex

The Nephron

• Afferent/efferent arterioles

• Glomerulus

• Bowman's Capsule

• Proximal Tubules

• Loop of Henle

• Distal Tubules

• Collecting Duct

Adrenal Glands

• Sit above kidneys

• Part of the endocrine system

• Produce regulatory hormones

• Outer Cortex

• Inner medulla

Adrenal Glands - Hormones

• Medulla

  • Catecholamines: Epinephrine and Norepinephrine

  • Peptides: Somatostatin and Substance P

• Cortex Hormones

  • Mineralocorticoids: Aldosterone and Corticosterone

  • Glucocorticoids: Cortisol and Cortisone

  • Androgens: Estrogens and Testosterone

Endocrine System

• Organs and glands that produce and release hormones.
  *Hormones are chemical messengers that regulate body functions.

Parts of the Endocrine System

• Pineal Gland

• Pituitary Gland

• Thyroid Gland

• Parathyroid gland

• Adrenal Gland

• Pancreas

• Ovaries

• Testes

References

• Cleveland Clinic. (2022). Kidneys.

• Cleveland Clinic. (2022). Adrenal Gland: What it is, Functions, Symptoms and disorders.

• Cleveland Clinic. (2023). Endocrine System.

• Madrazo-Ibarra A, Vaitla P. Histology, Nephron. [Updated 2023 Feb 17]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554411/