{"id":2513,"date":"2022-01-19T14:32:24","date_gmt":"2022-01-19T19:32:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathology\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=2513"},"modified":"2025-08-23T18:29:39","modified_gmt":"2025-08-23T22:29:39","slug":"histology-of-normal-kidney","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathology\/chapter\/histology-of-normal-kidney\/","title":{"raw":"Histology of Normal Kidney","rendered":"Histology of Normal Kidney"},"content":{"raw":"<div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--learning-objectives\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Learning Objectives<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n\r\nBy the end of this section, you will be able to:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Identify the renal cortex and medulla of a kidney with H&amp;E staining.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Correlate the staining of the cytoplasm and nuclei with the function of the cells within the nephron.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Identify glomerulus and Bowmans capsule within the renal cortex.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Distinguish between a renal arteriole and vein.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\nIn the following video, we will learn what the kidney looks like microscopically and identify the structures we learned about in previous sections.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div><\/div>\r\n<div>[h5p id=\"85\"]<\/div>\r\n<div><\/div>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;background-color: #f0f0f0;padding: 5px\"><sup><strong>DHPLC specimen PATH 304-020<\/strong> normal rabbit kidney created and presented by Lyz Boyd, licensed under <a href=\"https:\/\/choosealicense.com\/no-license\/\" rel=\"license\">[All Rights Reserved]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center\"><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/div>\r\n<div>\r\n\r\nKey Definitions:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">[pb_glossary id=\"3805\"]Epithelium[\/pb_glossary]\u00a0- The layer of cells that covers all internal and external surfaces of the body, including the renal tubules.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">[pb_glossary id=\"3806\"]Podocytes[\/pb_glossary] - Specialized cells present in the glomeruli of the kidneys that create the filtration barrier, allowing fluid and small molecules to pass through while keeping larger proteins and cells in the blood.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>[pb_glossary id=\"3807\"]<\/strong>Bowman\u2019s Space<strong>[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong> - The space surrounding the glomerulus that the filtrate initially passes into.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">[pb_glossary id=\"3450\"]Bowman\u2019s Capsule[\/pb_glossary] - The membrane surrounding Bowman\u2019s space.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">[pb_glossary id=\"3808\"]Brush Border[\/pb_glossary] - A feature of the cells of the proximal convoluted tubule that creates increased surface area for absorption.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">[pb_glossary id=\"2198\"]Lumen[\/pb_glossary] - The space inside a structure in the body, for example, the space that contains the filtrate in a renal tubule.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>Section Review<\/h2>\r\nNephrons are microscopic structures which filter blood to eliminate wastes via urine. Histologically, the cortex of the nephron comprises the glomeruli, Bowmans capsules, PCT, and DCT. The nephron loops (or Loop of Henle) are at the border of the cortex and medulla and form the renal pyramids. The collecting ducts travel from the cortex, through the medulla, and converge to form the renal papillae at the tip of the pyramids.\r\n\r\nGlomeruli are easily recognized by its round structure (full of many capillaries and RBC), surrounded by a thin membrane (Bowmans capsule), separated by a slight space (Bowmans space). PCTs are recognized by its eosinophilic appearance and 'fuzzy' lumen which represents the brush border\/microvilli that PCT uses to reabsorb nutrients out of the filtrate. In contrast, the loop, DCT, and collecting duct structures have a clear lumen.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h1>Review Questions<\/h1>\r\n<div class=\"h5p\">[h5p id=\"170\"]<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"pdf\">\r\n\r\n<strong>1. The lumen of the proximal convoluted tubule should be fuzzy.<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>True<\/li>\r\n \t<li>False<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>2. Which cells are found in the glomerulus? Check all that apply.<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Capillary endothelial cells<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Red blood cells<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Antibodies\/Immune cells<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Brush border<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Melanocytes<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Podocytes<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>3.\u00a0Fill in the blanks.<\/strong>\r\n\r\nThe renal cortex contains the round _____\u00a0 surrounded by its _____ capsule,\u00a0 _____ convoluted tubule with its brush border on the luminal side, and the _____ with is clear luminal space.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div class=\"textbox\">\r\n<h2>Answer Key<\/h2>\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li>True<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Capillary endothelial cells, Red blood cells, Podocytes<\/li>\r\n \t<li>glomerulus\/glomerui, Bowman's, proximal, distal convoluted tubule<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"<div>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--learning-objectives\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Learning Objectives<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<p>By the end of this section, you will be able to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Identify the renal cortex and medulla of a kidney with H&amp;E staining.<\/li>\n<li>Correlate the staining of the cytoplasm and nuclei with the function of the cells within the nephron.<\/li>\n<li>Identify glomerulus and Bowmans capsule within the renal cortex.<\/li>\n<li>Distinguish between a renal arteriole and vein.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>In the following video, we will learn what the kidney looks like microscopically and identify the structures we learned about in previous sections.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div id=\"h5p-85\">\n<div class=\"h5p-iframe-wrapper\"><iframe id=\"h5p-iframe-85\" class=\"h5p-iframe\" data-content-id=\"85\" style=\"height:1px\" src=\"about:blank\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" title=\"Normal Histology of the Kidney\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;background-color: #f0f0f0;padding: 5px\"><sup><strong>DHPLC specimen PATH 304-020<\/strong> normal rabbit kidney created and presented by Lyz Boyd, licensed under <a href=\"https:\/\/choosealicense.com\/no-license\/\" rel=\"license\">[All Rights Reserved]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center\"><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Key Definitions:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_2513_3805\">Epithelium<\/a>\u00a0&#8211; The layer of cells that covers all internal and external surfaces of the body, including the renal tubules.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_2513_3806\">Podocytes<\/a> &#8211; Specialized cells present in the glomeruli of the kidneys that create the filtration barrier, allowing fluid and small molecules to pass through while keeping larger proteins and cells in the blood.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_2513_3807\"><\/strong>Bowman\u2019s Space<strong><\/a><\/strong> &#8211; The space surrounding the glomerulus that the filtrate initially passes into.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_2513_3450\">Bowman\u2019s Capsule<\/a> &#8211; The membrane surrounding Bowman\u2019s space.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_2513_3808\">Brush Border<\/a> &#8211; A feature of the cells of the proximal convoluted tubule that creates increased surface area for absorption.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_2513_2198\">Lumen<\/a> &#8211; The space inside a structure in the body, for example, the space that contains the filtrate in a renal tubule.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Section Review<\/h2>\n<p>Nephrons are microscopic structures which filter blood to eliminate wastes via urine. Histologically, the cortex of the nephron comprises the glomeruli, Bowmans capsules, PCT, and DCT. The nephron loops (or Loop of Henle) are at the border of the cortex and medulla and form the renal pyramids. The collecting ducts travel from the cortex, through the medulla, and converge to form the renal papillae at the tip of the pyramids.<\/p>\n<p>Glomeruli are easily recognized by its round structure (full of many capillaries and RBC), surrounded by a thin membrane (Bowmans capsule), separated by a slight space (Bowmans space). PCTs are recognized by its eosinophilic appearance and &#8216;fuzzy&#8217; lumen which represents the brush border\/microvilli that PCT uses to reabsorb nutrients out of the filtrate. In contrast, the loop, DCT, and collecting duct structures have a clear lumen.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h1>Review Questions<\/h1>\n<div class=\"h5p\">\n<div id=\"h5p-170\">\n<div class=\"h5p-iframe-wrapper\"><iframe id=\"h5p-iframe-170\" class=\"h5p-iframe\" data-content-id=\"170\" style=\"height:1px\" src=\"about:blank\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" title=\"AKI Histology of Normal Kidney\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pdf\">\n<p><strong>1. The lumen of the proximal convoluted tubule should be fuzzy.<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>True<\/li>\n<li>False<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>2. Which cells are found in the glomerulus? Check all that apply.<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Capillary endothelial cells<\/li>\n<li>Red blood cells<\/li>\n<li>Antibodies\/Immune cells<\/li>\n<li>Brush border<\/li>\n<li>Melanocytes<\/li>\n<li>Podocytes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>3.\u00a0Fill in the blanks.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The renal cortex contains the round _____\u00a0 surrounded by its _____ capsule,\u00a0 _____ convoluted tubule with its brush border on the luminal side, and the _____ with is clear luminal space.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox\">\n<h2>Answer Key<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>True<\/li>\n<li>Capillary endothelial cells, Red blood cells, Podocytes<\/li>\n<li>glomerulus\/glomerui, Bowman&#8217;s, proximal, distal convoluted tubule<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"glossary\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\" id=\"definition\">definition<\/span><template id=\"term_2513_3805\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_2513_3805\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>The layer of cells that covers all internal and external surfaces of the body<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_2513_3806\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_2513_3806\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>Specialized cells present in the glomeruli of the kidneys that create the filtration barrier, allowing fluid and small molecules to pass through while keeping larger proteins and cells in the blood.<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_2513_3807\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_2513_3807\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>The space surrounding the glomerulus that the filtrate initially passes into.<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_2513_3450\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_2513_3450\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>cup-shaped sack lined by a simple squamous epithelium (parietal surface) and specialized cells called podocytes (visceral surface) that participate in the filtration process; receives the filtrate which then passes on to the PCTs<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_2513_3808\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_2513_3808\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>A feature of the cells of the proximal convoluted tubule that creates increased surface area for absorption.<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_2513_2198\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_2513_2198\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>interior of a tubular structure such as a blood vessel or a portion of the alimentary canal through which blood, chyme, or other substances travel<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><\/div>","protected":false},"author":1232,"menu_order":7,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":["lyz-boyd"],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[64],"license":[],"class_list":["post-2513","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry","contributor-lyz-boyd"],"part":2498,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/2513","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1232"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/2513\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9537,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/2513\/revisions\/9537"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/2498"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/2513\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2513"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=2513"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=2513"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=2513"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}