ABSTRACT
Kidney
– vertebral level: T12-L3
– developed from metanephric mesoderm (excretory parts) and ureteric bud (collecting duct)
– surrounded by (from outermost to innermost layer) paranephric fat → renal fascia → perinephric fat → fibrous capsule
– cortex, medulla, pyramids (tip of medullary pyramids = papillae), renal calyces, pelvis, ureter
– nephron = basic structural and functional unit (contains glomerulus, proximal convoluted tubule (PCT), loop of Henlé, distal convoluted tubule (DCT) and collecting duct)
– types of cells in glomerulus:
endothelial cells
epithelial cells
mesangial cells – these cells have properties similar to smooth muscle cells and macrophages
– glomerular basement membrane = basement membrane of endothelial cells + basement membrane of epithelial cells
