Renal pyramids (right kidney)
Pyramides renales
UrinaryOrgansAbdomenRight side
- What it is
- Cone-shaped masses of the renal medulla with their bases toward the cortex and their apices (papillae) pointing into the minor calyces at the hilum; their striped look comes from parallel tubules and vessels.
- Function
- Contain the loops of Henle, vasa recta and collecting ducts that build the medullary salt gradient and concentrate the urine.
- Size
- 8–18 per kidney (8 shown), each about 2.5 cm tall.
- Clinical note
- Renal papillary necrosis (analgesic abuse, diabetes, sickle-cell disease) kills the papillary tips.