The Kidneys and Endocrine System

The Kidneys

• 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/