Histology Photomicrographs

Human Anatomy and Physiology (BIOL& 241L-242L)
Karen Hart, Peninsula College

• Epithelial tissue
• Connective tissue proper
• Skin
• Cartilage and bone
• Skeletal muscle, smooth muscle
• Nervous system
• Cardiovascular system
• Lymphatic system
• Respiratory system
• Digestive system
• Urinary system
  • Kidney cortex
  • Kidney medulla
  • Bladder
• Reproductive system
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• Histology home page

Kidney medulla

The kidney medulla includes the pyramids and the columns between the pyramids.

The pyramids consist mainly of closely-packed long loops of Henle (of the juxtaglomerular nephrons), the capillaries of the vasa recta, collecting ducts and papillary ducts.

The upper image is a cross section through part of a pyramid. The most prominent structures in this image are collecting ducts. The lumen of a collecting duct is labeled lu. The wall of a collecting duct is composed of a simple cuboidal epithelium.

The lower image shows a longitudinal section through a collecting duct Arrows indicate the basement membrane of the collecting duct.