Renal pyramids: Definition from Answers.com

Renal pyramids

1. Renal pyramid
2. Efferent artery
3. Renal artery
4. Renal vein
5. Renal hilum
6. Renal pelvis
7. Ureter
8. Minor calyx
9. Renal capsule

10. Inferior renal capsule
11. Superior renal capsule
12. Afferent vein
13. Nephron
14. Minor calyx
15. Major calyx
16. Renal papilla
17. Renal column

Vertical section of kidney.

Latin

pyramides renales

Gray's

subject #253 1221

Renal pyramids (or malpighian pyramids) are cone-shaped tissues of the kidney. The renal medulla is made up of 8 to 18 of these conical subdivisions. The broad base of each pyramid faces the renal cortex, and its apex, or papilla, points internally. The pyramids appear striped because they are formed by straight parallel segments of nephrons.

Additional images

Frontal section through the kidney

The base of each pyramid originates at the corticomedullary border and the apex terminates in a papilla, which lies within a minor calyx, made of parallel bundles of urine collecting tubules.

External links

SUNY Figs 40:03-02

v • d • e Urinary system – Kidney

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 → Ureter

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

Renal physiology	Acid base physiology • Fluid balance

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)

Donate to Wikimedia

	Nephrons located close to the medulla with loops of henle that extend deep into the renal pyramids are called? Read answer...
	What does renal pertain to? Read answer...
	What does the renal artery do? Read answer...

	What structure is at the tip of the renal pyramids?
	Is the renal pyramids apart of the ureters?
	The area of the renal cortex that lies between renal pyramids are called?

		Sci-Tech Dictionary. McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms. Copyright © 2003, 1994, 1989, 1984, 1978, 1976, 1974 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more
		Medical Dictionary. The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Read more
		Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Renal pyramids". Read more

Renal pyramids

Additional images

See also

External links