Renal pyramids
1. Renal pyramid 2. Efferent artery 3. Renal artery 4. Renal vein 5. Renal hilum 6. Renal pelvis 7. Ureter 8. Minor calyx 9. Renal capsule 10. Inferior renal capsule 11. Superior renal capsule 12. Afferent vein 13. Nephron 14. Minor calyx 15. Major calyx 16. Renal papilla 17. Renal column
Vertical section of kidney.
Latin	pyramides renales
Gray's	subject #253 1221

Renal pyramids (or malpighian pyramids) are cone-shaped tissues of the kidney. The renal medulla is made up of 8 to 18 of these conical subdivisions. The broad base of each pyramid faces the renal cortex, and its apex, or papilla, points internally. The pyramids appear striped because they are formed by straight parallel segments of nephrons.

[edit] Additional images

Frontal section through the kidney

The base of each pyramid originates at the corticomedullary border and the apex terminates in a papilla, which lies within a minor calyx, made of parallel bundles of urine collecting tubules.

[edit] See also

• Renal sinus
• Medullary interstitium
• Renal capsule

[edit] External links

• SUNY Figs 40:03-02

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