Physiology : a manual for students and practitioners . at the form ofa bean. In size they are somewhat more than 4 inches in length,somewhat more than 2 inches wide, and about 1 inch thick. Theweight of each organ is about 4 to 6 ounces. A thin but rathertough capsule invests the kidney (Fig. 17). This may be pulledoff readily, leaving the surface of the organ smooth and even andof a deep-red color. If a vertical section of the organ be made,the central cavity (sinus) will be noticed, and about it the kidneytissue. Within the sinus are the apices of pyramidal ten in number, a
Physiology : a manual for students and practitioners . at the form ofa bean. In size they are somewhat more than 4 inches in length,somewhat more than 2 inches wide, and about 1 inch thick. Theweight of each organ is about 4 to 6 ounces. A thin but rathertough capsule invests the kidney (Fig. 17). This may be pulledoff readily, leaving the surface of the organ smooth and even andof a deep-red color. If a vertical section of the organ be made,the central cavity (sinus) will be noticed, and about it the kidneytissue. Within the sinus are the apices of pyramidal ten in number, and if the cut surface be examined closely itmay be noted that the outer (cortical) portion differs in appearancefrom the more central (medullary) portion. The blood-supply isfrom the renal artery, and the nerve-supply is from the sympatheticsystem through the solar plexus. 74 SECEETION. What is the function of the kidney ? The secretion of the urine. The kidney is a compound tubulargland. The medullary portion of the organ is almost entirely Fig. Vertical Section of Kidney. made up of tubules, which take origin in the cortex and emptyupon the apices of the pyramids of Malpighi of the medullaryportion. What are the Malpighian bodies? In the cortical portion of the kidneys are found minute tufts of THE KIDNEYS AND THE URINE. 75 capillaries which are .surrouiuled by a capsule lined by epithelial cells (Fig. IS), and here it it is that the urin- iterous tubules arise, the tuft of capillary Fio. 18. vessels being, as it were, built into the end of the tubule. What are the uriniferous tubules? BoyiMning in the curtiX of the kidney atone of the bodies of Malpighi, the minutesecreting ducts pursue a tortuous course tothe larger collecting tubules, which empty atthe apices of the pyramids of Malpighi intothe calyces of the kidney. Without enteringminutely upon the course of the tubules, it isimportant to remember that they form a loop(of Henle) which dips into the pyramid, andthat
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectphysiology, bookyear1
