Renal pelvis: Definition from Answers.com

Renal pelvis

Frontal section through kidney.

p. renalis

subject #253 1221

Kidney+pelvis

The renal pelvis is the funnel-like dilated proximal part of the ureter in the kidney.

It is the point of convergence of two or three major calyces. Each renal papilla is surrounded by a branch of the renal pelvis called a calyx.

The major function of the renal pelvis is to act as a funnel for urine flowing to the ureter.

The renal pelvis is the location of several kinds of kidney cancer.

Its mucous membrane is covered with transitional epithelium, and an underlying lamina propria of loose to dense connective tissue.

Additional images

Primitive kidney and bladder, from a reconstruction.

Vertical section of kidney.

Abdomen

Layers	Renal fascia • Renal capsule • Renal cortex (Renal column) • Renal medulla (Renal sinus, Renal pyramids, medullary interstitium) • Renal lobe • Cortical lobule • Medullary ray • Nephron

Afferent circulation	Renal artery → Segmental arteries → Interlobar arteries → Arcuate arteries → Interlobular 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 aka Duct of Belini → Renal papilla → Minor calyx → Major calyx → Renal pelvis

Efferent circulation	Glomerulus → Efferent arterioles → Peritubular capillaries / Vasa recta → Arcuate vein → Interlobar veins → Renal vein

Juxtaglomerular apparatus	Macula densa • Juxtaglomerular cells • Mesangium/Extraglomerular mesangial cell

Filtration	Glomerular basement membrane • Podocyte • Filtration slits • Mesangium/Intraglomerular mesangial cell • Tubular fluid

Pelvis

Bladder	Uvula • Trigone • Detrusor • Apex • Neck

Urethra	Urethral sphincters (External sphincter muscle of male urethra, External sphincter muscle of female urethra, Internal sphincter muscle of urethra)

urinary system navs: anat/physio/dev, noncongen/acid+base/congen/neoplasia, symptoms+signs/eponymous, proc

This article related to the genitourinary system is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

	What is the Tube that conducts urine from the renal pelvis to the bladder? Read answer...
	What is the term for an incision tho remove a stone from the renal pelvis? Read answer...
	Structure that conveys the processed filtrate to the renal pelvis? Read answer...

	Inflammation of renal pelvis?
	What is dilatation of renal pelvis of foetal?
	What is the main funtion of the renal pelvis?

		Medical Dictionary. The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Read more
		WordNet. WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. Read more
		Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Renal pelvis". Read more