Knowing the kidney structures seen under a microscope (histology) is particularly important for understanding how the kidney normally functions and how diseases can affect those functions.
The nephron is the main functional unit of the kidney. This is why the study of kidney diseases is also called “nephrology” and a kidney doctor is called a “nephrologist”.
The glomerulus is the part of the kidney that filters blood and creates urine. That is why many kidney disease have “glomerulopathy” or “glomerulonephritis” as part of their name.
The renal tubule system is a series of small tubes or “tubules”. They are responsible for altering the urine after it has been filtered from the glomerulus.
Collecting System
The collecting system is the tube system that collects urine varies collecting tubules and then transports it on towards to the
renal pelvis and finally to the
ureter.
