Lecture 8.

Histology of the urinary system

Main components of the urinary system

 Kidney

 Ureter and urinary bladder

 Urethra
 Kidney
 Main organ of the excretory system

 Two reddish-brown bean shaped

kidneys

 Regulation of the balance between

water and electrolytes, acid-base

 Filter waste product from blood

 Conversion of the filtrate into urine

 The urine is collected in the urinary

bladder
• when fills up, it is excreted via
urethra into the outside environment
 Kidney’s Internal Structure
 Renal capsule (fibrous capsule)
• Dense irregular connective tissue

 Cortex- the outer part of the kidney

 Medulla – the inner portion of the

kidney

 Pelvis- extension of the upper end of

the ureter

 Calyx- each calyx is a division of the

renal pelvis
Kidney’s Internal Structure
 Renal Cortex
• Renal columns: an extension of the
renal cortex in between the renal
pyramids

 Renal Medulla

• Renal pyramids: the triangular-

shaped divisions of the medulla
of the kidney
• 8-15 medulla per kidney

 Renal lobe
• Pyramid plus its associated
cortical tissue
• 8 to 15 renal lobe per kidney

Right kidney, corona section

Kidney’s Internal Structure

 Renal papilla:
• Connect renal pyramid
with minor calyx
• Collect urine formed by
tubules in one renal lobe
 Minor calyx:
• Funnel shape
• Receives renal papilla
• One per pyramid
 Major calyx
• Fusion of minor calyx
• 2-3 per kidney

Right kidney, corona section

Kidney H&E staining
Kidney’s Internal Structure
2
1 3

9
6
8

7
Kidney’s Internal Structure
 Nephrons
 The structural and functional filtration unit in the kidney
• 85% of nephrons in cortex (Cortical nephrons)
• 15% of uxtamedullary nephrons
Nephrons
Two main structures:
 Renal corpuscle
• Glomerulus: a network of capillaries
• Glomerular capsule (Bowman’s capsule)
- surrounds the glomerulus
 Renal tubule
• Proximal convoluted tubule (PCT)
• Loop of Henle
• Distal convoluted tubule (DCT)
• Collecting tubule – joining of several DCT

 In both kidneys: approximately 2.5 million nephrons

 Renal Corpuscle
Main parts of a renal corpuscle

 Tubular pole
• Vascular pole
• Afferent arteriole: Transport arterial
blood to glomerulus for filtration
- Efferent arteriole: Transport filtered
blood to the kidney venous system
• Urinary pole
- Connect to proximal convoluted
tubule
 Glomerulus

 Glomerular capsule (Bowman capsule)

 Capsular space (Bowman’s space)

 Renal Corpuscle
 Glomerular capsule (Bowman capsule)
- Parietal layer : simple squamous epithelium
- Visceral layer: unusual stellate epithelial cells
(Podocyte cells)
• Podocytes: have several primary processes
- Each primary process gives rise many secondary
processes or pedicels (finger-like arms)

 Capsular space (Bowman’s space): the space between the parietal and
visceral layers
- location of filtrate
 Renal Corpuscle
 Glomerulus is a tuft of anastomosing
network of capillaries that extends into
the Bowman capsule

 The glomerular capillaries are lined by

fenestrated endothelium

 Mesangium: the interstitial tissue

between glomerular capillaries

• Mesangial cells: 30-40% of the total

cells in glomerulus
• They are stellate cells with contractile
and phagocytic properties
Exercise 2

1. The renal cortical tissue that extends between the pyramids is

called…
2. A pyramid and the cortical tissue over it is referred to as a…
3. The cells forming the visceral layer of Bowman’s capsule are
called…
4. Glomerular capillaries are lined by….epithelium.
Exercise 1
I. What is this structure?
II. Label A, B, C, D, E

B
D

E
Filtration has three parts:

• The fenestrations of the capillary endothelium, which blocks blood cells and
platelets

• The thick glomerulus basement restricts large proteins and some organic
anions

• The filtration slit diaphragms between pedicels, which restrict some small
proteins and organic anions
Renal Tubule
 Proximal Convoluted Tubule (PCT)
 Begins at tubular pole of the renal corpuscle
 Cells: simple cuboidal epithelium
• have eosinopnic granular cytoplasm
(recognized by acidophilic staining)
• Have microvilli and brush border
Functions of PCT
• actively reabsorb from the filtrate
- all glucose, amino acids, filtered protein
- 80% Na, Cl, H2O
• It also excretes certain metabolites, dyes
and drugs
 Osmosis : reabsorption of 60%-65% of the
water in filtrate
 Nephron Loop (loop of Henle)
 Originates at end of proximal convoluted tubule

 Project toward and/or into the medulla

 Each loop has two limbs

• Descending limb: permeable to H2O
- simple squamous epithelium
- reabsorb 25 % of filtered water
- impermeable to Na+, Cl-
• Ascending limb: impermeable to H2O
Thin ascending limb
- Simple cuboidal epithelium
- passively absorb Na+, Cl- a into interstitial fluid
Thick ascending limb
- Simple cuboidal epithelium
- actively absorb Na+, Cl- interstitial fluid (in medulla)
 Nephron Loop (loop of Henle)
 Originates at end of proximal convoluted tubule

 Project toward and/or into the medulla

 Each loop has two limbs

• Descending limb: permeable to H2O
- simple squamous epithelium
- reabsorb 25 % of filtered water
- impermeable to Na+, Cl-
• Ascending limb: impermeable to H2O
Thin ascending limb
- Simple cuboidal epithelium
- passively absorb Na+, Cl- a into interstitial fluid
Thick ascending limb
- Simple cuboidal epithelium
- actively absorb Na+, Cl- interstitial fluid (in medulla)
 Distal convoluted tubule (DCT)
Straight part of DCT: low cuboidal cells
resting on a thin BVs
 Cells are smaller than in PCT

 The cells lack microvilli but are striated

 Reabsorbs les than 15% filtered water

• Principal cells (most numerous)

- Have receptors for hormones
- Reabsorb Na+
Secrete K+
• Intercalated cells
Reabsorb K+ and HCO3-
- Secrete H+ (involve acid-base balance)

 Reabsorption regulated by ADH, atrial natriuretic

peptide, aldosterone and parathyroid hormone
PCT vs DCT
 Collecting Tubule and Duct

 Drain urine from nephron to

renal pelvis

 Lie on medullary ray within cortex

 Simple squamous to cuboidal

epithelium

 It reabsorbs NaCl by active

transport
 Epithelium permeable to water
 Juxtaglomerular apparatus (JGA)

Macula densa cells: originate from DCT; densely packed columnar cells
- detect sodium concentration of the fluid in the tubule
 Juxtaglomerular cells: large rounded myoepithelial cells; derived from smooth
muscle cells of the afferent arteriole
• Sensitive to the pressure of blood in the afferent arteriole
 Extraglomerular mesangial cell ( Lacis cells, Polkissen cells)
- At the vascular pole
- secrete rein enzyme when blood pressure in the arteriole falls
The three basic steps of renal functions
Kidneys convent blood plasma to urine in three stages

1. Glomerular filtration: H2O & solutes move from blood into nephron
2. Reabsorption in tubules : water and necessary substances move from filtrate
into blood
3. Tubular secretion: Wastes and excess substance move from blood into filtrate
and enters the collecting duct
Formation of urine
Urinary Tract: Ureters
 Long, fibromuscular tubes
• Conduct urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder
Urinary Tract: Ureters

 The wall of the ureter is made 3

layers
• Mucosa – epithelium and lamina
propria
• Muscularis/Muscular coat: smooth
muscles
• Adventitia/Fibrosa : fibrous
connective tissue
Urinary Tract: Ureters

Transitional epithelium
Urinary Tract – Urinary Bladder

 The urinary bladder:

• Expandable, muscular container
• Serve as a reservoir for urine

 In females
The urinary bladder is in contact with the uterus and the vagina

 In males
Contact with the rectum and the prostate gland
Urinary Tract – Urinary Bladder
Trigone
 Triangular area of the urinary bladder wall

 Formed by imaginary lines

 Connect the two posterior ureteral

openings and the anterior urethral
opening

 It functions as a funnel
Directs urine into the urethra
Urinary Tract – Urinary Bladder

 Mucosa

 Submucosa

 Muscularis: detrusor muscle

 Adventitia (serosa layer)

Urinary Tract – Urinary Bladder
Micturition

 Micturition (or urination) is the act of emptying the bladder

 Emptying bladder
• When 200 ml of fluid collects, stretch receptors in the bladder wall
trigger reflex
• The detrusor muscle that surrounds the bladder contracts
• The internal urethral sphincter relaxes
• Urine moved upper part of urethra
• These are involuntary
But, the external urethral sphincter is voluntary . It is relaxed for
urine to flow through the urethra and to environment
Neural Control of Micturition
 Urethra
 Fibromuscular tube
• Exits the urinary bladder through
the urethral opening
Components
 Tunica mucosa: is a protective
mucous membrane
Mucin-producing cells: form
urethral glands
 Tunica muscularis: primarily smooth
muscle fibers

 The internal urethral sphincter

smooth muscle
 The external urethral sphincter
skeletal muscle
 Urethra

 Female: relatively short,

exits just anterior to the
Vagina

 The urethra starts out as

transitional cell

 Cells: pseudostratified
columnar epithelium and
stratified squamous in the
female
Urethra

 Male: longer

 3 parts
- Prostatic urethra
- membranous urethra
- spongy urethra

 Cells: stratified squamous in

male
Exercise 2

2 3
5

4
Exercise 2