Renal Corpuscle Renal System > Histology > Histology
Renal Corpuscle Renal System > Histology > Histology Key Points: • The renal corpuscles lie within the renal cortex; • They comprise the glomerular, aka, Bowman's capsule and capillaries The capsule is a double-layer sac of epithelium: — The outer parietal layer folds upon itself to form the visceral layer. — The inner visceral layer envelops the glomerular capillaries. • As blood passes through the glomerular capillaries, aka, glomerulus, specific components, including water and wastes, are filtered to create ultrafiltrate. • The filtration barrier, which determines ultrafiltrate composition, comprises glomerular capillary endothelia, a basement membrane, and the visceral layer of the glomerular capsule. • Nephron tubules modify the ultrafiltrate to form urine. Overview Diagram: • Tuft of glomerular capillaries; blood enters the capillaries via the afferent arteriole, and exits via efferent arteriole. • The visceral layer of the glomerular capsule envelops the capillaries, then folds outwards to become the parietal layer. • The capsular space lies between the parietal and visceral layers; this space fills with ultrafiltrate. • Vascular pole = where the arterioles pass through the capsule • Urinary pole = where the nephron tubule begins • Distal tubule passes by the afferent arteriole. Details of Capillary and Visceral Layer: • Fenestrated glomerular capillary; fenestrations are small openings, aka, pores, in the endothelium that confer permeability. • Thick basement membrane overlies capillaries • Visceral layer comprises podocytes: — Cell bodies — Cytoplasmic extensions, called primary processes, give rise to secondary foot processes, aka, pedicles. • The pedicles interdigitate to form filtration slits; molecules pass through these slits to form the ultrafiltrate in the 1 / 3 capsular space. • Subpodocyte space; healthy podocytes do not adhere to the basement membrane. Clinical Correlation: • Podocyte injury causes dramatic changes in shape, and, therefore, their ability to filter substances from the blood.
[Show full text]