Thin segment of loop of Henle
The thin segment is a part of the renal tubule found between the proximal and distal tubules. The renal tubule and the renal corpuscle together comprise the nephron.[1]
The thin segment is described as a U-shaped band, consisting of the two continuous parts:
Histology
Both limbs of the loop of Henle are lined with the simple squamous epithelium.[2] Their main function is to regulate the levels of water and solutes in the primary urine. The basement membrane of the thin limb in humans has very uniform nodular thickenings that form a network that surrounds the tubule and acts as a support structure that is homologous to the collenchyma in plants. Smith, RA et al. (Arch Pathol Lab Med Vol 108, May 1984) have designated these nodules "Belliveau Bodies" after Robert Belliveau the pathologist who originally described these structures.[3]
References
- Ross, Michael H. (2011). Histology : a text and atlas : with correlated cell and molecular biology. Pawlina, Wojciech. (6th ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Health. ISBN 9780781772006. OCLC 548651322.
- Mescher, Anthony L. (2013-02-22). Junqueira's basic histology : text and atlas. Junqueira, Luiz Carlos Uchôa, 1920- (Thirteenth ed.). New York. ISBN 9780071807203. OCLC 854567882.
- University of Illinois College of Medicine