Urinary system

Kidney_cortex_400X_semithin with toluidine blue

The renal corpuscle is composed of a glomerular capillary (C) tuft  and a double-walled renal capsule.

The renal capsule has two parts: a parietal layer lined by a simple squamous epithelium (BC) and a visceral layer formed by podocytes (black arrows). 

The urinary space (asterisks) is between the two layers of renal corpuscle.

An arteriole (A) is observed in the vascular pole.

The proximal convoluted tubules (PCT) have obvious brush border (triangles).

The distal  convoluted tubules (DCT) has fewer and less well developed microvilli than PCT does and its lumen is more cleaner. 

Urinary system

Kidney_medulla_400X_semithin with toluidine blue

The proximal straight tubules (PST) also have obvious brush border (triangles), whereas

The distal  straight tubules (DST) has fewer and less well developed microvilli than PST does and its lumen is more cleaner. Besides, their nuclei are located in the apical portion of the cells. 

 In the medulla, the thin segment (T) formed by a low cuboidal or simple squamous epithelium could be observed.

Urinary system

Kidney_Renal corpuscle_3000X

The photography shows parts of the renal corpuscle, including glomerular capillaries (C) and a renal capsule.

The renal capsule has two parts: a parietal layer lined by a simple squamous epithelium (BC) and a visceral layer formed by podocytes (black arrows). 

Urinary system

Kidney_Glomerlus_10000X

Podocytes (black arrows) extend their processes around the glomerular capillaries (C)

Urinary system

Kidney_Glomerlus_25000X

The endothelium of the glomerular capillary has numerus fenestrations (arrow heads).

Podocytes (black arrows) extend their processes on the  glomerular basement membrane of the glomerular capillaries (C).

Urinary system

Kidney_Proximal convoluted tubules _5000X

The most prominent feature of proximal convoluted tubules  is the closely packed microvilli (Mv) on the apical surface of cells.

Urinary system

Kidney_Proximal convoluted tubules _10000X

The apical surface of proximal tubule cell shows  closely packed microvilli (Mv). Vesicles (V), lysosomes (L) and mitochondria (M) are present in the cell.

Urinary system

Kidney_Proximal convoluted tubules _30000X

Many longitudinally oriented mitochondria (M) are located in the basal striation of proximal tubule cell.

Urinary system

Kidney_Proximal convoluted tubules _30000X

Closely packed microvilli (Mv) are obvious in the apical surface of proximal tubule cell.

Urinary system

Kidney_Distal convoluted tubules _5000X

The apical surface of distal convoluted tubule cell  has relatively short and less-developed microvilli (Mv).

Urinary system

Kidney_Distal convoluted tubules _10000X

Many longitudinally oriented mitochondria (M) are located in the basal striation of distal tubule cell.

Urinary system

Kidney_Distal convoluted tubules _20000X

Many longitudinally oriented mitochondria (M) are located in the basal striation of distal tubule cell.

Urinary system

Kidney_Distal convoluted tubules _20000X

The apical surface of distal convoluted tubule cell  has relatively short and less-developed microvilli (Mv).

Urinary system

Urinary bladder_400X_semithin with toluidine blue

The urinary bladder is lined by the transitional epithelium (Epi) which character is that cells of the surface layer exhibit  dome-shaped.

The connective tissue (CT) containing blood vessels is under the epithelium and the muscularis layer (M) is  beneath the CT. 

Urinary system

Urinary bladder_transitional epithelium_5000X

The cell membrane of transitional epithelium contains the unique plaques (arrows)  which may invaginate into cell to be fusiform vesicles (arrow heads).  

Urinary system

Urinary bladder_transitional epithelium_10000X

The cell membrane of transitional epithelium contains the unique plaques (arrows)  which may invaginate into cell to be fusiform vesicles (arrow heads).  

Urinary system

Urinary bladder_transitional epithelium_20000X

The cell membrane of transitional epithelium contains the unique plaques (arrows)  which may invaginate into cell to be fusiform vesicles (arrow heads).  

Urinary system

Urinary bladder_transitional epithelium_50000X

The cell membrane of transitional epithelium contains the unique plaques (arrows)  which may invaginate into cell to be fusiform vesicles (arrow heads).  

The membrane of fusiform vesicles appears to be similar to the cell membrane of the transitional epithelia cell.

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