Histology of the Urinary System

	URINARY TRACT HISTOLOGY ©David B. Fankhauser, Ph.D., Professor of Biology and Chemistry University of Cincinnati Clermont College, Batavia OH 45103
Renal cortex, 40x	This page has been accessed times since 3 June 2002. 20 May 1993, rvsd 27 Mar '94, 29 Mar '95, 26 March 1996, 4 June '97, 29 Mar '98, 14 May 98	Glomerulus, 400x

Examine these slide at low power first to find the field which best demonstrates the listed features. Label the indicated features, and briefly describe their functions. Make the following three illustrations showing the histology of the urinary tract.

HISTOLOGY IN PREPARED SLIDES: Slide 10, Kidney, injected, (H 3490), VE's 9th: pp 250-265

Click image to enlarge features of kidney Page in Eroshenko's
Histology Atlas

I. OVERVIEW OF RENAL CORTEX at 40x:
renal capsule (if present)
Bowman's capsule
cortex
glomerulus
medullary rays
medulla                        Here is a labeled view of the 40x kidney.

(VE: p. 253)

II. CLOSE-UP OF RENAL CORTEX at 400x:
glomerulus (and, if present:)
    vascular pole (vessels lead in)
    urinary pole (proximal tubule exits)
Bowman's capsule
proximal convoluted tubules (small variable lumen, with brush borders)
distal convoluted tubules (fewer, larger lumen, without brush border)

Here is a labeled view of the 400x cortex .

JUXTAGLOMERULAR COMPLEX:
Synthesizes renin in response to low blood volume or low blood pressure.
Renin then converts angiotensinogen to angiotensin.
Angiotensin stimulates the adrenal cortex to release aldosterone.
Aldosterone stimulates synthesis of Na?K pump in the ascending loop of Henle.

juxtaglomerular complex (rare to find: if present, at vascular pole)
Here is a labeled view of the juxtaglomerular complex .

And another labeled view of a juxtaglomerular complex .

and yet another labeled view of a juxtaglomerular complex!

(VE: pp. 255 & 257)

III. DETAILS OF RENAL MEDULLA at 400x:
None of these have RBCs in them:

loop of Henle thin segment, descending (lined with squamous cells)
loop of Henle thick segment, ascending (lined with cuboid cells)
collecting tubule (with thicker cuboid cells)^* (papillary duct = its terminal portion)

Here is a labeled view of the 400x medulla .

And another labeled view of the 400x medulla contrasting the descending and ascending arms of the loop of Henle. And another contrasting the collecting tubule with the arms of the loop of Henle .

^*(better seen in H150, from fall quarter)
(VE: p. 259)

Here are additional images of renal histology.
The nephrons in the first have been injected with dye:

Renal corpuscles, 100 x:

Renal corpuscles, 400x:

Renal medulla, 400x:

Click image to enlarge	features of kidney	Page in Eroshenko's Histology Atlas
	I. OVERVIEW OF RENAL CORTEX at 40x: renal capsule (if present) Bowman's capsule cortex glomerulus medullary rays medulla Here is a labeled view of the 40x kidney.	(VE: p. 253)
	II. CLOSE-UP OF RENAL CORTEX at 400x: glomerulus (and, if present:) vascular pole (vessels lead in) urinary pole (proximal tubule exits) Bowman's capsule proximal convoluted tubules (small variable lumen, with brush borders) distal convoluted tubules (fewer, larger lumen, without brush border) Here is a labeled view of the 400x cortex . JUXTAGLOMERULAR COMPLEX: Synthesizes renin in response to low blood volume or low blood pressure. Renin then converts angiotensinogen to angiotensin. Angiotensin stimulates the adrenal cortex to release aldosterone. Aldosterone stimulates synthesis of Na?K pump in the ascending loop of Henle. juxtaglomerular complex (rare to find: if present, at vascular pole) Here is a labeled view of the juxtaglomerular complex . And another labeled view of a juxtaglomerular complex . and yet another labeled view of a juxtaglomerular complex!	(VE: pp. 255 & 257)
	III. DETAILS OF RENAL MEDULLA at 400x: None of these have RBCs in them: loop of Henle thin segment, descending (lined with squamous cells) loop of Henle thick segment, ascending (lined with cuboid cells) collecting tubule (with thicker cuboid cells)^* (papillary duct = its terminal portion) Here is a labeled view of the 400x medulla . And another labeled view of the 400x medulla contrasting the descending and ascending arms of the loop of Henle. And another contrasting the collecting tubule with the arms of the loop of Henle . ^*(better seen in H150, from fall quarter)	(VE: p. 259)

URINARY TRACT HISTOLOGY