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Kidney Structure

Kidney Structure

The kidneys are two large bean-shaped organs located in the upper abdomen. They filter the blood several times a day to remove toxins and rebalance water and electrolytes of the circulatory system via the renal veins. The kidneys receive blood directly from the heart via the renal arteries. These arteries enter the kidney at the hilum, the concave surface of the bean, where they branch and divide into smaller vessels and capillaries.

External Anatomy of the Kidney

External Anatomy of the Kidney

The kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs in the human body that play a critical role in maintaining overall health. They filter out waste products from the blood, regulate blood pressure, maintain electrolyte balance, and stimulate the production of red blood cells.
The kidneys are located in the retroperitoneal space on either side of the vertebral column, protected posteriorly by the 11th and 12th ribs. The right kidney sits slightly lower than the left owing to the presence of the liver...

Internal Anatomy of the Kidney

Internal Anatomy of the Kidney

The kidneys are essential organs in the human body, performing a myriad of tasks that maintain homeostasis and overall health.
Anatomical Position and Dimensions
The kidneys are retroperitoneal organs positioned against the posterior abdominal wall on either side of the spine, roughly between the twelfth thoracic and third lumbar vertebrae. Each kidney is typically 10-12 cm long, 5-6 cm wide, and 3-4 cm thick, weighing about 150 grams.
Renal Cortex
The outermost region of the kidney is the...

Renal Corpuscle

Renal Corpuscle

The glomerulus and Bowman's capsule are two essential components of the nephron, which is the functional unit of the kidney. These microscopic structures play a critical role in the process of blood filtration to produce urine.
Glomerulus: Structure and Function
The glomerulus is a tiny, intricate network of capillaries located at the beginning of the nephron. It's enveloped by the Bowman's capsule and receives its blood supply from an afferent arteriole, which divides into numerous capillaries...

Pleiotropy

Pleiotropy

Pleiotropy is the phenomenon in which a single gene impacts multiple, seemingly unrelated phenotypic traits. For example, defects in the SOX10 gene cause Waardenburg Syndrome Type 4, or WS4, which can cause defects in pigmentation, hearing impairments, and an absence of intestinal contractions necessary for elimination. This diversity of phenotypes results from the expression pattern of SOX10 in early embryonic and fetal development. SOX10 is found in neural crest cells that form melanocytes,...

Hedgehog Signaling Pathway

Hedgehog Signaling Pathway

The Hedgehog gene (Hh) was first discovered due to its control of the growth of disorganized, hair-like bristles phenotype in Drosophila, much like hedgehog spines. Hh plays a crucial role in the development of organs and the maintenance of homeostasis in both invertebrates and vertebrates. However, while Drosophila has only one Hh protein, mammals have multiple functional Hedgehog proteins - Sonic (Shh), Desert (Dhh), and Indian Hedgehog (Ihh). All of these homologous proteins have adapted to...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Isolation and Culture of Cells from the Nephrogenic Zone of the Embryonic Mouse Kidney

Isolation and Culture of Cells from the Nephrogenic Zone of the Embryonic Mouse Kidney

Published on: April 22, 2011

Hox genes and kidney development.

Deneen M Wellik¹

¹Division of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, 109 Zina Pitcher, 2053 BSRB, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200, USA. dwellik@umich.edu

Pediatric Nephrology (Berlin, Germany)

|May 10, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This review explores mammalian kidney development, detailing cell origins, signaling pathways, and morphogenetic changes. It highlights the crucial role of Hox genes in forming this complex organ system.

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Technique to Target Microinjection to the Developing Xenopus Kidney

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Isolation and Culture of Cells from the Nephrogenic Zone of the Embryonic Mouse Kidney

Isolation and Culture of Cells from the Nephrogenic Zone of the Embryonic Mouse Kidney

Published on: April 22, 2011

Technique to Target Microinjection to the Developing Xenopus Kidney

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Area of Science:

Developmental Biology
Nephrology
Genetics

Background:

The adult mammalian kidney arises from the differentiation and integration of multiple cell types.
Understanding the origin and signaling guiding cell differentiation is crucial for kidney development research.
The metanephric kidney undergoes significant morphogenetic changes during its formation.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the formation of distinct cell types in the mammalian kidney.
To elucidate the origin and signaling pathways governing cell differentiation and integration.
To discuss the morphogenetic changes during kidney development and the role of Hox genes.

Main Methods:

Literature review of developmental biology studies.
Analysis of signaling pathways involved in kidney organogenesis.
Examination of genetic factors, including Hox genes, in kidney development.

Main Results:

Detailed description of nephrogenic mesenchyme, ureteric epithelium, stromal, and endothelial cell origins.
Overview of key signaling pathways (e.g., Wnt, BMP, FGF) directing kidney cell differentiation.
Synthesis of knowledge on kidney morphogenesis and the regulatory role of Hox genes.

Conclusions:

Mammalian kidney development is a complex process involving precise cell differentiation and integration.
Signaling pathways and genetic factors, particularly Hox genes, are critical regulators of kidney formation.
Further research is needed to fully understand the intricate mechanisms of kidney organogenesis.