
The main difference between renal cortex and renal medulla is that renal cortex is the outer region of the kidney which contains blood vessels connected to the nephrons whereas renal medulla is the inner region of the kidney which contains 8-12 renal pyramids. Renal pyramids empty into the calyx of the kidney.
Full Answer
What is the difference between renal cortex and renal medulla?
It is divided into smaller sections known as renal pyramids. The key difference between renal cortex and renal medulla is, the renal cortex is the outer portion of the kidney while the renal medulla is the innermost part of the kidney. 1. Overview and Key Difference 2. What is Renal Cortex 3. What is Renal Medulla 4.
What is the function of the renal cortex?
Renal cortex produces hormones called erythropoietin, which facilitates the synthesis of new red blood cells. What is Renal Medulla Renal medulla refers to the inner-most part of the kidney. It is composed of 8-12 renal pyramids.
Are renal corpuscles found in the renal cortex?
Renal corpuscles are found in the renal cortex. Renal corpuscles are not found in the renal medulla. Sections of Nephron. Renal corpuscles, proximal and distal convoluted tubules present in the renal cortex. The loop of Henle and collecting ducts are found in the renal medulla.
What are the cortical columns of the kidney?
The cortical columns are extending down between the renal pyramids. It contains renal corpuscles (glomerulus and Bowman’s capsule) as well as renal tubules except in the loop of Henle. It also contains blood vessels and cortical collecting ducts.

What is the difference between renal cortex and renal medulla?
The main difference between renal cortex and renal medulla is that renal cortex is the outer region of the kidney which contains blood vessels connected to the nephrons whereas renal medulla is the inner region of the kidney which contains 8-12 renal pyramids.
How can you identify a kidney under a microscope?
0:078:43What your kidney looks like down the microscope - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd longitudinal section and oblique section around here and then we can see lots of these littleMoreAnd longitudinal section and oblique section around here and then we can see lots of these little round balls ourselves. And these are the glomeruli of the kidney. So let's zoom in on one.
Why does the cortex have a different appearance to the medulla?
Cortex and medulla The renal cortex is the outer layer of the kidney tissue. It is darker than its underlying renal medulla because it receives over 90% of the kidney blood supply. The cortex has a grainy appearance, as it mostly contains ovoid and coiled parts of the nephrons (renal corpuscles and convoluted tubules).
What does the renal medulla look like?
The innermost tissue, called the renal medulla, forms comparatively dark cones, called renal pyramids, with bases outward and apexes projecting, either singly or in groups, into the renal sinus. Each projection of one or more pyramid apexes into the sinus is known as a renal papilla.
What microscopic structures are located in the cortex of a kidney?
This structure, called the renal corpuscular capsule, or Bowman's capsule, encloses a cluster of microscopic blood vessels—capillaries—called the glomerulus. The capsule and glomerulus together constitute the renal corpuscle.
What microscopic structures are located within the cortex of the kidney and what is their function?
The nephron is the structural and functional unit of the kidney. There are about two million nephrons in each kidney. Nephrons begin in the cortex; the tubules dip down to the medulla, then return to the cortex before draining into the collecting duct.
What is the relationship between the renal cortex and medulla?
Renal medulla is the innermost part of the kidney. It is divided into smaller sections called as renal pyramids. The difference between renal cortex and renal medulla is, the renal cortex is the outer portion of the kidney whereas renal medulla is the innermost part of the kidney.
What does the renal cortex look like?
The renal cortex is the outer portion of the kidney between the renal capsule and the renal medulla. In the adult, it forms a continuous smooth outer zone with a number of projections (cortical columns) that extend down between the pyramids....Renal cortexFMA15581Anatomical terminology9 more rows
Why does the medulla appear striped?
The medulla consists of a number of medullary pyramids, named because of their triangular shape. These are striped in appearance because they contain microscopic coiled tubes called nephrons, the functional unit of the kidney .
What is cortex and medulla?
renal medulla: The inner-most region of the kidney, arranged into pyramid-like structures, that consists of the bulk of nephron structure. renal cortex: The outer region of the kidney, between the renal capsule and the renal medulla, that consists of a space that contains blood vessels that connect to the nephrons.
Which is darker cortex or medulla of kidney?
On sectioning, the kidney has a pale outer region- the cortex- and a darker inner region- the medulla.
What best describes the renal medulla?
The renal medulla is the smooth, inner tissue of the kidney. It contains the loop of Henle as well as renal pyramids.
What is Renal Cortex?
In mammals, the kidney has a granular outer most part known as the renal cortex. It forms continuous smooth outer zone with a number of projections known as cortical columns. The cortical columns are extending down between the renal pyramids. It contains renal corpuscles (glomerulus and Bowman’s capsule) as well as renal tubules except in the loop of Henle. It also contains blood vessels and cortical collecting ducts.
What is the renal medulla?
The renal medulla is hypertonic to the filtrate in the nephron that aids in maintaining water balance by the reabsorption of water. Figure 02: Renal Medulla. It is believed that the inner substance the medullar contains high concentration Na + ions.
What is the innermost part of the kidney?
Renal medulla is the innermost part of the kidney which is divided into smaller sections known as renal pyramids. The renal medulla contains the parts of the structures of the nephron which are responsible for maintaining the water and salt balance of the blood.
Why is the glomerular filtrate more concentrated?
The glomerular filtrate later becomes more concentrated due to the reabsorption of water and solutes. The solutes like glucose and amino acids leave the glomerular filtrate and combine again with blood. Figure 01: Renal Cortex. Water and salts also return again to the circulatory system.
Why is the renal medulla important?
This process conserves most of the water in the body. So, the renal medulla is very important to maintain the salt and water balance in the body.
What is the function of kidneys?
It is located just below the rib cage. The function of the kidney is to filter blood daily to produce urine that contains waste and extra fluids. These waste materials will flow from kidneys to the bladder through ureters. And from the bladder, these urines will be excreted out of the body through the urethra. Renal cortex is the outer portion of the kidney which is located between renal capsule and renal medulla. Renal medulla is the innermost part of the kidney. It is divided into smaller sections called as renal pyramids. The difference between renal cortex and renal medulla is, the renal cortex is the outer portion of the kidney whereas renal medulla is the innermost part of the kidney.
Where is the kidney cortex located?
Renal cortex is the outer portion of the kidney which is located between renal capsule and renal medulla. Renal medulla is the innermost part of the kidney. It is divided into smaller sections called as renal pyramids.
Answer
In mammals, the kidney has a granular outer most part known as the renal cortex. It forms continuous smooth outer zone with a number of projections known as cortical columns. The cortical columns are extending down between the renal pyramids.
Answer
The renal structures that conduct the essential work of the kidney cannot be seen by the naked eye. Only a light or electron microscope can reveal these structures. Even then, serial sections and computer reconstruction are necessary to give us a comprehensive view of the functional anatomy of the nephron and its associated blood vessels.
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