UNIT 12: HUMAN REGULATION
AND REPRODUCTION
Lesson 3: Kidney Structure and Histology
LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. To be able to accurately draw a diagram of a
kidney.
2. To be able to draw images seen under a
microscope of kidney histology.
KIDNEY: ULTRASTRUCTURE
Label the
diagram:
Get a post-it
note:
RECAP QUESTIONS:
1.
2.
3.
4.
What is the main function of the Kidney?
Describe the size and shape of a kidney.
What is the name of the artery that supplies
the kidney with blood?
Where are nephrons positioned in the kidney?
THE KIDNEY: GROSS STRUCTURE
THE KIDNEY: GROSS STRUCTURE
Cortex
Renal Artery
Pyramids
Renal
Vein
Medulla
Renal Pelvis
THE KIDNEY RECAP:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FN3MFhYPW
Wo
(TED)
KIDNEY DISSECTION:
BIOLOGICAL DRAWINGS
Use plain (unlined) paper
 Always use a sharp pencil
 Draw using continuous lines
 Do not shade or colour
 All label lines drawn with a ruler
 Labels written horizontally
 Title

NEPHRON FACTS
There are approximately 1 million nephrons in
each human kidney.
 They are responsible for the balance of water,
ions and pH in the blood.
 They also secrete the hormones:
Erythropoietin
Renin
Vitamin D3

KIDNEY HISTOLOGY

This is a micrograph of a section of kidney. Can
you spot any part of the nephron?
GLOMERULUS
CORTEX:
GLOMERULI AND TUBULES
CONVOLUTED TUBULES

Because the proximal convoluted tubule is considerably
longer than the distal convoluted tubule, a typical section
of the renal cortex includes many more profiles of proximal
tubules than of distal tubules
MEDULLA
MEDULLARY TUBULES – LONGITUDUNAL
SECTION
MEDULLARY TUBULES: CROSS SECTION
BIOLOGICAL DRAWINGS
CLASS WORK TASKS
1.
2.
Draw a pencil diagram of a cross section of a
whole kidney. Ensure you label the main
sections.
Observe microscope slides of kidney histology.
Identify the sections of the nephron you are
observing. Make a biological drawing of your
microscope slide. Annotate/label your diagram.
PODOCYTES
PODOCYTES
Highly Specialised Cells
 Present in the glomerulus / bowman's capsule.
 Allows filtrate to move from capillary to
Bowman’s capsule
 Creates the high pressure needed for
ultrafiltration to occur

MORE DETAILS ON PODOCYTES:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dbJh649RJQ
HOMEWORK:
Find out what process happens at the glomerulus /
bowman’s capsule. Write a few sentences about this
process.
TO FINISH:
Draw diagrams on the windows.
 Annotate and write any facts / details you have
learnt.
