Kidney Slides

The first slides (#85 and #109) show the boundary between the cortex and medulla quite clearly. Extensions of the tubules of the medulla out into the cortex are obvious on this slide and are called medullary rays. (What tubules do you find in medullary rays?) You may see some arteries and veins at the junction of the cortex and medulla. See if you can figure out which arteries these might be.

This is a cross section of the Renal Medulla.The Medulla has no renal corpuscles and its tubules are generally thinner walled and straighter (thick and thin loops of Henle and collecting ducts). Be sure you can identify descending and ascending thick limbs of Henle's loop, thin loops of Henle, and collecting ducts. In the medulla find: collecting ducts, thin and thick portions of Henle's Loop, and blood vessels.