renal cortex: Definition from Answers.com

Wikipedia: renal cortex

Renal cortex

1: Parenchyma 2: Cortex 3: Medulla 4: Perirenal fat 5: Capsule 6: Ureter 7: Pelvis of kidney 8: Renal artery and Renal vein 9: Hilus 10: Calyx

Frontal section through the kidney
Gray's	subject #253 1221
MeSH	Kidney+cortex

The renal cortex is the outer portion of the kidney between the renal capsule and the renal medulla. In the adult, it forms a continuous smooth outer zone with a number of projections (cortical columns) that extend down between the pyramids. It contains the renal corpuscles and the renal tubules except for parts of the loop of Henle which descend into the renal medulla. It also contains blood vessels and cortical collecting ducts.

The renal cortex is the part of the kidney where ultrafiltration occurs.

Microscopic cross section of the renal cortex.

External links

SUNY Labs 40:06-0103 - "Posterior Abdominal Wall: Internal Structure of a Kidney"

Urinary system - Kidney
Layers	Renal fascia • Renal capsule • Renal cortex (Renal column) • Renal medulla (Renal sinus, Renal pyramids) • Renal lobe • Cortical lobule • Medullary ray • Nephron
Afferent circulation	Renal artery → Segmental arteries → Interlobar arteries → Arcuate arteries → Cortical radial arteries → Afferent arterioles → Renal corpuscle (Glomerulus, Bowman's capsule)
Renal tubule	Proximal tubule → Loop of Henle (Descending, Thin ascending, Thick ascending) → Distal convoluted tubule → Connecting tubule → Collecting ducts → Duct of Bellini → Renal papilla → Minor calyx → Major calyx → Renal pelvis → Ureter
Efferent circulation	Glomerulus → Efferent arterioles → Peritubular capillaries/Vasa recta → Arcuate vein → Interlobar veins → Renal vein
Juxtaglomerular apparatus	Macula densa • Juxtaglomerular cells • Extraglomerular mesangial cells
Filtration	Glomerular basement membrane • Podocyte • Filtration slits • Intraglomerular mesangial cells

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