Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
renal papilla
References
Images
Medical illustration showing a cross section of the right kidney, with labeled parts including the cortex, medulla, renal artery and vein, calyces, renal pelvis, ureter, and associated blood vessels. Right and left kidney.
Britannica AI Icon

renal papilla

anatomy
Written by
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of  Encyclopædia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them.
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last updated

Quick Summary

Medical illustration showing a cross section of the right kidney, with labeled parts including the cortex, medulla, renal artery and vein, calyces, renal pelvis, ureter, and associated blood vessels.
human kidney Cross section of the right kidney showing the major blood vessels.

The renal papilla is the apex of a renal pyramid, a triangular section of tissue within the inner substance (medulla) of the kidney. This projection extends into the cavity of a calyx, a cup-shaped structure where urine collects. Urine is transported from the outer part of the kidney, where it is produced, through tubules within the renal pyramids to the papilla. The surface of the renal papilla has a sievelike appearance due to numerous small openings, which are the ends of collecting tubules called the ducts of Bellini. Through these openings, urine droplets are discharged into the calyx, and from there, they flow to the bladder via the renal pelvis and ureter.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
2 Britannica Sources
  1. renal papilla
  2. renal pyramid

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.