PP1.H1.2 +D1 The kidney

The Kidney:

  • The kidneys are paired structures which are located on the posterior abdominal wall
  • The kidney has a thin connective tissue capsule which enclosed a multilobed kidney
  • Each lobe is divided into a cortex and a medulla
  • The division into cortex and medulla is created by the packaging of the functional units of the kidney - the nephrons
  • When a kidney is sliced the outer cortex appears granular (to the naked eye)
  • This is due to the presence of the renal corpuscles - the part of the nephron where filtration of the blood occurs
  • The medulla appears striated which is due to the arrangement of parts of the tubular components of the nephrons, together with their associated blood vessels and collecting ducts (which carry the urine from the nephrons)
  • These tubes all lie in parallel with each other giving a striated appearance
  • The distribution of blood vessels within the kidney is highly organised
  • The kidney substance is held together by the arrangement of blood vessels and the need to package the nephrons in intimate contact with the blood vessels
  • All parts of the nephron rely on an intimate association with blood vessels
  • Blood vessels, through their structural relationship with the nephron, support the mechanism by which blood is filtered and non-waste materials can be recovered, and fluid balance within the body can be maintained

Diagram of Kidney:

    Diagram of Kidney
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