James Paget Henry: master physiologist.
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Aerospace Medicine↗
Biomedical subjects
N S Maluf
Publications and source records attributed to N S Maluf.
Kidneys of the killerwhale and significance of reniculism.
BACKGROUND: The kidneys of all Cetacea are composed of many small relatively independent kidneys (renicules) containing considerable interrenicular tissue. Although reniculism is not entirely confined to the Cetacea, it is desirable to consider the possible advantage of reniculism to mammals of gigantic size. The kidneys of the killerwhale, Orcinus orca, are compared from this standpoint to the kidneys of diverse mammals. METHODS: The specific renal parenchymal mass, glomerular counts, glomerular size, and specific glomerular mass of the killerwhale are measured and compared quantitatively (statistically) with similar data from numerous diverse mammals. Simultaneously, a method is described for enumerating the renicules of a cetacean kidney. RESULTS: Specific parenchymal mass of a killerwhale adult's two kidneys (0.33%) is close to the expected value for mammals of its adult body mass (2,087 kg). The diameter of the adult's glomerular capsules (153 microm) is strikingly less than that expected from its body mass (regression equation and graph for mammals in general). However, the number of glomeruli per kidney (approximately 100 x 10[6]) is markedly greater than that for mammals of its body mass (regression equation and graph for mammals in general) and is the first such count for a cetacean. The total glomerular mass relative to parenchymal renal mass of the O. orca infant and adult is, nevertheless, 5.5% and 6.0%, respectively, and is thus close to the general mammalian value of approximately 5%. CONCLUSIONS: Organization of a cetacean kidney into numerous renicules does not increase specific renal parenchymal mass or specific glomerular mass. The apparent advantage of numerous independent renicules is the limit that is afforded for length of tubules in the necessarily large kidneys of gigantic mammals.
Animals↗
On the enlargement of the normal congenitally solitary kidney.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the anatomy of the normal congenitally solitary kidney and to complement an earlier investigation of the major functional parameters of congenitally and acquired normal solitary kidneys. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A healthy congenitally solitary kidney was compared anatomically with a normal control kidney from an equal pair in a man of similar height and age. RESULTS: The solitary kidney was about 1.8 times heavier than the control; the diameter of its glomeruli and convoluted tubules were similar to those of the control kidney but there were twice as many glomeruli in the solitary kidney than in the control. The total mass of glomeruli, as a percentage of the renal mass (about 5%), was the same for both kidneys and essentially similar to that for mammals in general. However, the total mass of glomeruli as a percentage of cortical mass was considerably greater in the congenitally solitary kidney than in the control, suggesting a relative deficit of convoluted tubular mass in the solitary kidney. CONCLUSION: The normal congenitally solitary kidney is hyperplastic, i.e. there are more elements (nephrons), and apparently not hypertrophic, i.e. having larger nephrons.
Adult↗
Kidney of elephants.
BACKGROUND: Elephants are an important and isolated order. Their kidneys need substantial investigation and hitherto have not been portrayed even by a pyelogram. METHODS: Pyelograms and injection of vessels with colored acrylic emulsions were done initially. Dissection was under fiberoptics using a dissecting microscope with frequent measurements. Special areas were cut for microscopy (light and electron) and photography. Glomerular counts were done by macerating weighted pieces of cortex and later finding the cortical fraction of the renal parenchyma. RESULTS: The elephant kidney is devoid of dorsoventral symmetry. It is composed of 8 +/- 2 lobes separated by fine interlobar septa. There is no reduction of lobes with maturity. The pelvis bifurcates at the sinus into primary branches or infundibula which dispatch a secondary branch or infundibulum into every lobe. Interlobar arteries and veins, nerves, fat, and connective tissue generally accompany every secondary infundibulum into its lobe. A major branch of the renal artery may perforate the renal capsule and course to the cortico-medullary (C-M) border independently of the secondary infundibulum to that lobe. The number of glomeruli per kidney is approximately 15 x 10(6). In adults the glomerular mass is 4.9 +/- 0.5% of the renal parenchyma and 6.7 +/- 0.3% of the cortex. Areae cribrosae occur generally at low papillae. They are the outlets of numerous terminal collecting ducts which may be accompanied by a tubus maximus (T.M.) A T.M. of diameter 1.6 mm and length 10 mm may act as the only substitute for an area cribrosa. Wide anastomoses between the two main renal veins occur within the renal sinus. Intralobar arteries and veins often course right through the outer medulla to and from, respectively, the C-M border. CONCLUSIONS: Anatomically, an elephant's kidneys appear to be able to concentrate urine only moderately. Their kidneys tend to resemble those of the manatee but not of the dugong.
Animals↗
Further studies on the kidney of the hook-lipped African rhinoceros, Diceros bicornis.
A healthy, pregnant Diceros bicornis (No. 29455), with histologically normal but relatively large kidneys containing a correspondingly large number of nephrons, died suddenly from an injury. Renal lobation was studied partly from serial transverse cuts across the kidney. The fibromuscular pelvic conduits, which are a craniocaudal bifurcation of the ureter, are associated with prominent longitudinally disposed paraconduital veins which anastomose with the interlobar veins. The arcuate veins open widely into the paraconduital veins. The latter drain into the major tributaries of the renal vein at the renal sinus. The interlobar arteries enter the parenchyma through the interlobar septa. These arteries release internal perforator branches, through the septa, which pass to the corticomedullary border, branch along that border as arcuate arteries, and release cortical branches centrifugally. All these branches give off twigs to the glomeruli. Relative renal mass of mammals is inversely proportional to their adult body mass. This is indicated by a regression line which includes rhinoceroses. D. bicornis No. 29455, accordingly, has exceptionally large kidneys. The mesonephros of the 75 mm fetus of D. bicornis has mature glomeruli and tubules. The metanephros has pelvic conduits, paraconduital veins, but, as yet, no medullary loops.
Animals↗
Renal anatomy of the pigmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis): an overview.
The adult kidney of Choeropsis liberiensis is 74.8% cortex and 22.9% medulla. The neonatal cortex is relatively less. A single kidney has about 3 x 10(6) glomeruli. These form 5% of renal mass in the adult but more so in neonates. The primary tubus maximus, TM1, follows the lateral curvature of the kidney. It gives off, toward the hilum, dorso-ventrally paired secondary tubi maximi, TM2. The tubi are a single layer of high cuboidal epithelium from which terminal collecting ducts arise throughout the surrounding inner medulla. The cranial and caudal limbs of TM1 open at a diminutive pelvis which receives a small papilla in continuity with TM1. The medulla is continuous although variably distorted by folds of cortex at the lateral curvature of the kidney. The renal lobes project toward the medial border and consist of cortex, medulla and TM2. The lobar cortex is continuous with the common cortex of the lateral curvature. The kidney, although strongly lobed, has no infundibula or rencules. A main peripheral vein courses medial and parallel to TM1. It is apparently a modified large arcuate vein and receives arcuate and interlobar tributaries. At the level of the papilla it joins the main renal vein. The arterial supply is mainly by interlobar arteries but there are also sizeable external perforator arteries which branch from the main renal artery and perforate the cortex of lobes about the hilum. The source of the arteries is illustrated.
Animals↗
Renal morphology of the hook-lipped African rhinoceros, Diceros bicornis, Linnaeus.
The kidney of Diceros bicornis has about 60 lobes, all appearing peripherally. These are separated by interlobar septa, except for small septal defects through which tubules pass. Renal capsule and interlobar septa are fibromuscular and contain small blood vessels. The kidney is about 65% cortex. It contains about 12.5 x 10(6) glomeruli, which form about 7% of the cortical mass and 4.6% of the renal mass. Diameter of a glomerular capsule is about 244 microns, there being no difference in size across the cortex in these adults. The ureter bifurcates into a cephalic and a caudal, fibromuscular, urothelial-lined conduit, into which open about 23 urothelial-lined infundibula. The common large collecting duct, or tubus maximus, of every lobe opens at the apex of its infundibulum. Two tubi may join into one infundibulum. The tubi and their terminal collecting ducts (of Bellini) are part of the inner medulla. Musculature of conduits and infundibula is largely longitudinal. The calyx may be represented by a circular muscle bundle near the apex of every infundibulum. The large intralobar veins are partly adherent to their infundibulum and calyx and receive arcuate veins via valved orifices. Most branches of the renal artery enter via the interlobar septa. Within a septum they branch again and also supply numerous perforators, which thence enter the cortex. Remaining branches of the renal artery enter cortex directly from without. A fibromuscular scaffolding lies deep to arcuate veins where they contact medulla. Where these veins contact cortical tubules; however, their walls become merely endothelium, like the walls of the interlobular veins.
Animals↗
The kidney of tapirs: a macroscopical study.
The renal cortex of tapirs, water-loving primordial ungulates, was continuous, nonlobed, and about 80% of renal mass in adult and 71% in term-neonate. In the neonates even the peripheral glomeruli were moderately mature. Tapirus bairdi had about 4 million glomeruli per kidney and T. pinchaque about 3 million smaller glomeruli. Number of glomeruli per gm of cortex was 12,444 in T. bairdi and 13,400 in T. pinchaque. Cortical loops were common in the medullary rays. The medulla was the simple crest-type. The terminal collecting ducts (T.C.D.) opened separately at the crest and not into a tubus maximus. The "outer stripe" of the outer medulla apparently was telescoped into the deep cortex. The medullary loops turned at a thick portion and at nearly all levels of the medulla. The medullary crest was lined by urothelium which extended into the ends of the T.C.D. Otherwise the T.C.D. were made of columnar epithelium. The pelvic urothelium was continuous with that of the medullary crest at the dorsal and ventral fornices. The fornices were well within the inner medulla. Hence only inner medulla could be exposed to pelvic urine. The hilar arteries, unlike the other two perissodactyl families (rhinoceri and equids), passed through the cortico-medullary (C-M) border and some large arteries and veins passed through the outer medulla to and from the C-M border without branches or tributaries. Unlike kidneys with a medullary crest in diverse eutherian mammals, tapirs lacked pelvic extensions along the major intrarenal blood vessels and thus lacked pelvic intervascular eminences.
Animals↗
Renal anatomy of the manatee, Trichechus manatus, Linnaeus.
The manatee kidney is composed of several closely apposed lobes. These are formed by cortical folds (plicae corticales) that completely isolate the medullae, except where the medullae of adjacent lobes are partially fused. The cortex is continuous; its folds usually are separated, but only partially, by interlobar septa extending from the renal capsule. The cortex makes up approximately 57% of renal mass in adults and 68% in the calf. There are about 3 million glomeruli per kidney. The average is somewhat less than that expected of an adult eutherian of equal mass. The glomeruli, however, are large; they form 7.38% +/- 1.33 of cortical mass, which is above that for at least ten unrelated adult eutherians. The number of glomeruli per gram of cortex is considerably greater in the calf than in the adult. The medullae are about 43% of renal mass. The cortico-medullary thickness ratio is 0.08 to 0.24. All terminal collecting ducts open at a crater (cratera cribrosa) of varying depth. Hair-pin loops occur at all levels of medulla, and apparently all loops bend at their thick segment. Cortical loops occur in the medullary rays. Vascular bundles were evident at the cortico-medullary border and thin tubules extended into the medulla from the central ends of the medullary rays (cortical) in seven out of the nine kidneys. The renal pelvis is separated from the central ends of the cortical folds by delicate fascia through which pass the interlobar vessels. There are no fornices and no infundibula. The collagenous tissue of the pelvic wall extends across most of the pelvic surface of the outer medulla.
Animals↗
Kidney of the great Indian rhino Rhinoceros unicornis, Linnaeus.
The kidney of R. unicornis has almost 80 closely apposed lobes, all appearing peripherally. Every lobe, almost enclosed by a collagenous septum, resembles a deformed truncated cone. The pelvis proper is a small pouch which divides into a cephalic and a caudal urothelial-lined fibromuscular conduit. The terminal collecting ducts of every lobe open into a tubus maximus. This is lined by cuboidal cells and otherwise has no wall. There is no papilla. All lobes finally empty through the 18 primary infundibular orifices at the pelvic conduits. A primary fibromuscular infundibulum typically yields a secondary one supplying an adjacent lobe. Two or three lobes can use a common tubus maximus by "convergence" of their medullae. Tubus maximus, terminal collecting ducts and deep outer medulla are embraced by a fibromuscular calyx which is the peripheral extension of an infundibulum and is fused to the outer medulla. There is thus no vault between medulla and calyx. Large intralobar veins are fused to the outer wall of the calyx. The possible significance of this is discussed. The cortex is the only part of a lobe which has contact with infundibulum, pelvic conduits, or pelvis proper. The kidney has about 16 million glomeruli which form 5.8% of the adult's cortical mass. Many adult mammals, from mouse to rhinoceros, fit into the log10-log10 slope relating number of glomeruli per kidney to body-mass. Neonatal rhinos at term have mature glomeruli throughout the cortex. The small size of the glomeruli and the large number per field allow 16 million in an 118-gm kidney.
Animals↗
Kidney of a juvenile okapi, Okapia johnstoni.
The kidney of the okapi is of the medullary crest type and is divided transversely into six lobes by encroachments of cortex into medulla. These lobes are demarcated externally by furrows. The collecting ducts open at the apex of the truncated medullary crest. The pelvis part of the kidney, or pars pelvina renis, is the entire inner medulla and is the only part exposed to the pelvic urine. The pelvis has 10 interlobar vascular eminences and extends peripherally along-side the interlobar vessels as 10 fornices. The vascular eminences are buttressed by 12 free-edged semilunar eminences, which form pouches across 12 intervascular eminences. At each pole a vascular eminence supplies blood vessels to a dorsal and a ventral intervascular eminence. The extrahilar portion of the renal vein consists mainly of a thick coat of longitudinal muscle. In the renal sinus this heavy muscular coat is absent. The tributaries of this vein open via conspicuous nonmuscular valves. The cortex is about 85% of the renal mass and has about 2.89 X 10(6) glomeruli, which form 4.85% of the cortical mass. The filtering surface of a glomerulus is 0.088 mm2, making the total filtering surface of one kidney 0.219 m2. The number of glomeruli per kidney falls into the line which relates number of glomeruli to adult body weight from mouse to elephant and is expressed by log N = 0.59 log W + 3.2 or by N - 1.585W0.59 where N is the number of glomeruli in one kidney and W the adult body weight.
Animals↗
Anatomy of the kidneys of a newly born pigmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis Morton).
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Animals↗