renal cortex

Examples of renal cortex in the following topics:

• Internal Anatomy of the Kidneys

  • The renal cortex is a space between the medulla and the outer capsule.
  • The kidneys are surrounded by a renal cortex, a layer of tissue that is also covered by renal fascia (connective tissue) and the renal capsule.
  • The renal cortex is granular tissue due to the presence of nephrons—the functional unit of the kidney—that are located deeper within the kidney, within the renal pyramids of the medulla.
  • Erythropotein, a hormone necessary for the synthesis of new red blood cells, is also produced in the renal cortex.
  • The kidney is made up of three main areas: the outer cortex, a medulla in the middle, and the renal pelvis.

• Supply of Blood and Nerves to the Kidneys

  • The renal veins drain the kidney and the renal arteries supply blood to the kidney.
  • Due to the position of the aorta, the inferior vena cava, and the kidneys in the body, the right renal artery is normally longer than the left renal artery.
  • The renal arteries carry a large portion of the total blood flow to the kidneys—up to a third of the total cardiac output can pass through the renal arteries to be filtered by the kidneys.
  • Renal blood supply starts with the branching of the aorta into the renal arteries (which are each named based on the region of the kidney they pass through) and ends with the exiting of the renal veins to join the inferior vena cava.
  • The renal plexus are the source of nervous tissue innervation within the kidney, which surround and primarily alter the size of the arterioles within the renal cortex.

• Nephroptosis (Floating Kidney)

  • Nephroptosis, also called floating kidney or renal ptosis, is an abnormal condition in which the kidney drops down into the pelvis when the patient stands up.
  • The renal fascia is a layer of connective tissue encapsulating the kidneys and the suprarenal glands.
  • The deeper layers below the renal fascia are, in order, the adipose capsule of the kidney (or perirenal fat), the renal capsule and finally the parenchyma of the renal cortex.
  • Anterior attachment: Passes anterior to the kidney, renal vessels, abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava and fuses with the anterior layer of the renal fascia of the opposite kidney.
  • The attack of colic pain is called Dittel's crisis or renal paroxysm.

• Adrenal Cortex

  • The adrenal cortex is devoted to the synthesis of corticosteroid and androgen hormones.
  • Angiotensin is stimulated by the juxtaglomerular cells when renal blood pressure drops below 90 mmHg.
  • Androstenedione (Andro): an androgenic steroid produced by the testes, adrenal cortex, and ovaries.
  • The layers of the adrenal cortex are shown in this figure.
  • Differentiate among the zones (and hormones produced) of the adrenal cortex

• Overview of the Adrenal Glands

  • In humans, the adrenal glands are found at the level of the 12th thoracic vertebra sitting above and slightly medial to the kidneys, lying within the renal fascia, and separated from the kidneys by a thin layer of connective tissue.
  • Each adrenal gland has two distinct structures, the outer adrenal cortex and the inner medulla—both produce hormones.
  • The cortex mainly produces mineralcorticoids, glucocorticoids, and androgens, while the medulla chiefly produces adrenaline and nor-adrenaline.

• Long-Term Renal Regulation

  • Angiotensin II also stimulates the secretion of the hormone aldosterone from the adrenal cortex.

• Polycystic Kidney Disease

  • Studies show that 10% of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients treated with hemodialysis in Europe and the U.S. were initially diagnosed and treated for ADPKD.
  • As the cysts accumulate fluid, they enlarge, separate entirely from the nephron, compress the neighboring renal parenchyma, and progressively compromise renal function.
  • Under the function of gene defect, epithelial cells of renal tubule turn into epithelial cells of cyst wall after phenotype change and begin to have the function of secreting cyst fluid, which leads to continuous cysts enlargement.
  • In ARPKD, kidneys retain their shape, but are larger than the normal anatomical range with dilated collecting ducts from the medulla to the cortex.

• Motor Areas

  • The motor areas of the brain are located in both hemispheres of the cortex.
  • Premotor cortex: Located anterior to the primary motor cortex and responsible for some aspects of motor control.
  • Posterior parietal cortex – Guides planned movements, spatial reasoning, and attention.
  • Various experiments examining the motor cortex map showed that each point in motor cortex influences a range of muscles and joints, indicating significant overlapping in the map.
  • $$Topography of the human motor cortex, including the premotor cortex, SMA, primary motor cortex, primary somatosensory cortex, and posterior parietal cortex.

• Production of Dilute and Concentrated Urine

  • This activates the renin–angiotensin system; among other actions, it causes renal tubules (i.e., the distal convoluted tubules and the cortical collecting ducts) to reabsorb more sodium and water from the urine.
  • The system then stimulates zona glomerulosa of the adrenal cortex which, in turn, secretes the hormone aldosterone.
  • 1) Urinary system 2) Kidney 3) Renal pelvis 4) Ureter 5) Urinary bladder 6) Urethra (left side with frontal section) 7) Adrenal gland 8) Renal artery and vein 9) Inferior vena cava 10) Abdominal aorta 11) Common iliac artery and vein 12) Liver 13) Large intestine 14) Pelvis

• Renal Disease and Failure

  • Renal failure uremia is a syndrome of renal failure characterized by elevated levels of urea and creatinine in the blood.
  • Renal failure (also kidney failure or renal insufficiency) is a medical condition in which the kidneys fail to adequately filter waste products from the blood.
  • Renal failure uremia is a syndrome of renal failure that includes elevated blood urea and creatinine levels.
  • Acute renal failure can be reversed if diagnosed early.
  • It is considered to be chronic renal failure if the decline of renal function is to less than 25%.