Classification of Nephrons

THE URINARY SYSTEM Based on Glomerular Location:

● Cortical Nephrons
The main organs of the Urinary System: ○ Located near the capsule (superficial area of the kidney).
● Kidneys - two bean shaped in appearance. ○ Make up the 85% of the nephron.
● Ureters - carries the urine into the bladder. ○ Situated primarily in the cortex of the kidney.
● Urinary bladder - stores the urine. ○ Responsible for the removal of waste products and
● Urethra - passageway of the urine output. reabsorption of nutrients.
● Juxtamedullary Nephrons
○ Positioned near the medulla.
KIDNEY
○ Longer loops of Henle
 Involves in the production of the urine.
○ Extend deep into the medulla of the kidney.
○ For the concentration of the urine.
Functions:
● Maintains the homeostasis by regulating the fluid balance, acid-base
balance, and electrolytes.
● Excretes the waste products in the form of urine.
● Maintains blood pressure and erythropoiesis.

Each kidney contains approximately 1 to1.5 million functional units called

nephrons.
● Two types of nephrons:
○ Cortical nephron
○ Juxtamedullary nephron

Based on Loop of Henle

● Short Looped Nephrons
○ Associated with cortical nephrons.
○ Tubules extend only into the outer medulla before
reflecting back into the cortex.
● Long Looped Nephrons
○ Feature juxtamedullary nephrons.
○ Tubules extend into the inner medulla before reflecting
back into the cortex.

CAPSULE AND PARENCHYMA NEPHRON COMPRISES OF

Capsule Composition:
● Collagen fibers, smooth muscle fibers, and blood capillaries. RENAL CORPUSCLE
 Also known as the Malpighian Body
● Serves as a protective layer for the kidney.
 For the blood filtering component of the nephron
Parenchyma Components:
 Spherical structure and varies in size and among species.
● Millions of nephrons are present.
● Branches of renal arteries, veins, lymphatics, and nerves are integral
Comprises of: (both are responsible for blood filtration)
parts of the parenchyma.
● These structures collectively contribute to the kidney's filtration and Glomerulus Bowman's Capsule
- a network of blood capillaries tucked - collects the filtrate.
excretory functions.
into the bowman's capsule. The - Double walled in a cup shape
glomerular blood vessels (Afferent appearance in the nephron.
NEPHRONS and Efferent arterioles) enters and - Network of tiny blood vessels are
 Both the structural and functional units of the kidney. exit the glomerulus at the vascular located within the Bowman's capsule.
pole. - Primary function is to collect the
● Glomerular capillaries - where filtrate that is produced as a result of
filtration occurs. the initial filtration of the blood in the
● Mesangiam - provides support. glomerulus.

The urinary pole

- Opposite the vascular pole where the bowman's capsule opens into the
PCT.
Glomerular capillaries
- Lined by an extremely thin layer of fenestrated endothelium.
- Beneath the endothelium is the Glomerular basement membrane (GBM)
○ Made up of collagen fibers, heparin sulfate and glycoproteins.
- Beneath the GBM, there is a visceral layer of bowman's capsule.
Mesangiam
- Forms the core of the glomerulus and is composed of specialized contractile
cells embedded in an acellular matrix.
Mesangial cells
- Have elongated, irregular cell processes, contains bundles of microfilament
made up of contractile proteins.
- It is responsible for phagocytosis, production of mesangial matrix,
maintenance of capillary loops and blood flow.
  Follows the loop of Henle.
Components of Bowman’s Capsule  For the further reabsorption and secretion.
Visceral and Parietal Layers  The lining epithelium is tall cuboidal without any brush border (microvilli are
Visceral Layer: Comprised of podocytes with primary, secondary, and absent).
tertiary processes. (Inner Layer)  Apical cell borders are simple without undulation.
Parietal Layer: Lined by simple squamous epithelium, transitioning to simple  Nucleus is located close to the apical border of the cell.
cuboidal at the urinary pole. (Outer Layer)  The lumen appears larger in DCT as compared to PCT.
*Both are responsible in producing podocytes.
Urinary Space (US) CONNECTING SEGMENT
● Positioned between the visceral and parietal layers.  Connects the distal convolute tubule to the initial collecting tubule.
● Continuous with the lumen of the proximal convoluted tubule.  Epithelial Cell Types
Podocytes o Tall Cuboidal Cells
● Forms a filtration barrier that allows the selective passage of the o Connecting Segment Cells
substance during the urine formation. o Intercalated Cells
● Lines the visceral layer. o Principal Cells
● Primary, secondary, and tertiary processes, with the smallest known as  Principal cells
the foot processes or pedicels. They create a filtration slits, regulating o Low cuboidal cells
the entry of the molecules in the renal tubules. o Smooth apical surface
● Provides structural support and helps in the reabsorption of the o Few short apical micro projections
essential substances while directing the waste for excretion.  Intercalated cells
Filtration Slits and Slit Diaphragm o Traditionally associated with the regulation of acid-bas
● Narrow spaces between foot processes are termed Filtration Slits homeostasis.
● This slits are bridged by the Split Diaphragm.
Peripolar Cell COLLECTING DUCT
● An additional epithelial cell located at the vascular pole, at the junction  receives urine from the multiple nephrons and functions for the water
of the parietal and visceral layers. reabsorption.
● Cytoplasm contains dark-stained, membrane-bound granules.  Connecting segments merge with the initial collecting tubule in the cortical
labyrinth and this merge with the cortical collecting duct in the medullary rays.
PROXIMAL TUBULES ● Arcade - initial collecting tubule
 for reabsorption of water, ions, and nutrients from the filtrate. ● Straight portion
○ Cortical collecting duct - located in the renal cortex.
● Proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) ○ Outer medullary duct - located in the outer medulla.
○ It twists and turns in the cortical labyrinth (PCT) until it enters the ○ Inner medullary duct - located in the inner medulla.
medullary rays where it becomes straight and called as PST. ● The lining epithelium is simple cuboidal.
○ Lining epithelium is simple cuboidal with brush border. ● Can be recognized by clear lateral demarcation between neighboring
○ The brush border appearance is due to numerous microvilli on epithelial cells.
the apical cell membrane of cuboidal cells. ● These collecting ducts extend towards the renal papillae and the renal
○ Nucleus is single, spherical and situated in the middle to basal calyx.
part of the cell. ● Ducts of Bellini
○ The cuboidal cells have eosinophilic granular cytoplasm. - Collecting ducts at the tip of the medullary pyramids.
○ Cell boundaries are not distinct because of extensive basal and
lateral cell membrane interdigitation with neighboring cells
○ The lumen is small and uneven.
● Proximal straight tubule (PST)

ACTIVE TRANSPORT PASSIVE TRANSPORT

Proximal Responsible in Responsible in absorbing
convoluted absorbing substance water
tubule (PCT) such as the glucose,
amino acid, and salts
Ascending Responsible in Urea, Sodium
Loop of Henle absorbing chloride
Proximal Sodium
Convoluted
Tubule
Distal Sodium Urea Renal Cortex
Convoluted  Outer region of the kidney that contains nephrons. Includes the cortical
Tubule labyrinth and medullary rays
 . Cortical Labyrinth
LOOP OF HENLE - PCT, DCT, Connecting segment, Renal corpuscles, thick ascending
Thin descending portion limb, initial collecting duct
● Allows water to pass out of the tubule.  Medullary Rays
Thin ascending portion - Cortical collecting ducts, cortical thick ascending limb and proximal
● Responsible for the passive movement of the ions. straight tubule.
*The thin limb has simple squamous epithelium that gradually changes Renal Medulla (Pyramids)
to low cuboidal at the end of the thin segment. The nuclei protrude into Outer Medulla
the lumen to a greater degree than do the nuclei of the endothelial cells
 Outer stripes
of adjacent capillaries.
- Proximal straight tubules, thick ascending limb, collecting duct.
Thick ascending portion
 Inner stripes
● Final part, actively transports the ions.
- Transition of PST to thin descending limb of Henle’s loop, collecting
*The thick ascending limb has simple cuboidal epithelium with stubby
duct
apical micro projections and undulating cell borders. No brush border.
Inner Medulla
- Collecting duct, Loop of Henle's thin descending and ascending limb.
DISTAL CONVOLUTED TUBULE
 Juxtaglomerular Apparatus
● Macula Densa URINARY BLADDER
o Located at the vascular pole of the glomerulus.  An organ with the ability to adapt its shape in function to facilitate urine
o Specialized epithelial cells in the thick ascending limb. storage in the urine elimination.
o Positioned between afferent and efferent arterioles.  During the storage phase, the walls of the bladder relaxes and expands. It
o Tall and narrow cells with a dilated intercellular space. allows to store the urine comfortably.
o Regulates glomerular blood pressure and the renin-angiotensin system  When it’s time to empty, the wall contract and flatten. It pushes the urine out
(regulates the blood pressure, fluid-balance, and electrolyte levels) to the urethra.
● Extraglomelular Mesangial Cells (Polkissen/Lacis Cells)  The typical healthy adult bladder can store up to 2 cups of urine and this
● Juxtaglomerular Cells (JG Cells) storage capacity enables individuals to comfortably hold the urine for period
o Specialized smooth muscle cells. of 2 to 5 hours.
o Located in the afferent arterioles.
o Regulation of the renal blood flow for the filtration rate that emphasize ● Normal daily urine output = 1,200 - 1,500 mL/day
the integrated functions of the juxtaglumerular apparatus in maintaining ● Normal range of urine output = 600 - 2,000 mL/day
the renal homeostasis. ● Oliguria
○ Decrease volume of urine output
Lacis Cells ● Anuria
 Found between the macula densa and the arterioles. ○ Association of the urine flow
 For the structural integrity of the juxtaglumerular apparatus. ● Nocturia
○ Increase volume of urine output during the night
● Polyruria
○ Increase of daily urine volume.
● The histological details of urinary bladder are the same as that of the
ureter except:
○ The lamina Muscularis is present as small isolated bundles
of smooth muscles.
○ The tunica Muscularis is thick and the muscles are
collectively called as Detrusor muscle.
○ Rest of the features are the same.

URETHRA
Basic four layers:
● Tunica mucosa
○ The epithelium is transitional but changes to sratified
URETER squamous at the external urethral orifice.
 Lumen Shape - Stellate shaped ● Tunica Submucosa
○ It is connective tissue layer and has cavernous spaces that
Epithelium are typical of erectile tissue.
Tunica Mucosa ○ Tunica Muscularis
● Transitional epithelium ○ It has inner and outer longitudinal and a middle circular
● 3-5 cell layers thick layer of smooth muscles as in bladder but towards the
○ Lamina Propria external urethral orifice, it acquires an exernal layer of
■ Interconnected with tunica submucosa skeletal muscle called Urethralis muscle.
■ Loose connective tissue ● Tunica serosa/adventitia
Tunica Muscularis ○ A fibrous layer.
● Upper 2/3
○ Two layers of smooth muscle cells
■ Inner longitudinal
■ Outer circular
● Lower 1/3
○ Three outer longitudinal layer
■ Inner longitudinal
■ Middle circular
■ Outer longitudinal
Tunica Serosa/Adventitia
● Fibrous connective tissue