Renal cortex

Definition

The renal cortex is the outer region of the kidney that contains the glomeruli and convoluted tubules. It plays a critical role in filtering blood and forming urine.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The renal cortex contains approximately one million nephrons, which are the functional units of the kidney.
2. It is responsible for filtering waste products from the blood to form urine.
3. Adequate nutrition, including sufficient protein intake, is essential for maintaining renal cortex health and function.
4. Damage to the renal cortex can lead to impaired kidney function and chronic kidney disease (CKD).
5. Clinical assessments often include evaluating how well the renal cortex performs its filtration functions through tests like serum creatinine and glomerular filtration rate (GFR).

Review Questions

• What are the primary components found in the renal cortex?
• How does proper nutrition impact the health of the renal cortex?
• Why is it important to monitor serum creatinine levels when assessing renal cortex function?

Related terms

nephron:

The basic structural and functional unit of the kidney responsible for filtering blood and forming urine

glomerulus:

A network of capillaries located within Bowman's capsule in each nephron where blood filtration begins

glomerular filtration rate (GFR):

A test used to measure how well the kidneys are filtering waste from the blood