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Nephron Microscopic Anatomy (view source)
Revision as of 13:13, 3 September 2008
, 13:13, 3 September 2008no edit summary
** Outer parietal layer
** Outer parietal layer
* It is here where the filtrate is collected before entering the proximal tubule
* It is here where the filtrate is collected before entering the proximal tubule
==Proximal Tubule==
[[Image:proxdisttub.jpg|right|thumb|250px|<small><center>Histology section of renal tubules (© RVC 2008)</center></small>]]
* This is the piece of nephron which starts at the Bowmans capsule and ends in the loop of henle
* Consists of two parts which differ in cell morphology and function
** Pars convoluter - joins the urinary pole of the Bowmans capsule
** Pars recta (straight part) - links the pars convoluter to the descending thin limb of the loop of henle
* Has a brush border of densely packed microvilli to increase surface area
* The basal lamina is striated to increase the surface area for reabsorption
** Typical of actively ion transporting epithelial cells
** Lots of mitochondria to provide energy for exchange
** Lots of Na<sup>+</sup> / K<sup>+</sup> ATPases to maintain ion levels in cells at right level to allow efficient take up of ions from lumen
==The Loop of Henle==
The loop of henle basically consists of two parallel limbs which descend from the cortex into the medulla. They are joined at the bottom and as such the flow moves down one limb and up the other in opposite directions. This sets up a counter current exchanger and allows the loop of henle to be the major site of water reabsorption along the nephron. It has three parts; the thin decsending limb, the thin ascending limb and the thick ascending limb