Renal cortex

For other uses, see Cortex (disambiguation).

The renal cortex is the outer portion of the kidney between the renal capsule and the renal medulla.^[1] In the adult, it forms a continuous smooth outer zone with a number of projections (cortical columns) that extend down between the pyramids. It contains the renal corpuscles and the renal tubules except for parts of the loop of Henle which descend into the renal medulla. It also contains blood vessels and cortical collecting ducts.

Renal cortex
Kidney anatomy, with renal cortex labeled at top.
1: Parenchyma 2: Cortex 3: Medulla 4: Perirenal fat 5: Capsule 6: Ureter 7: Pelvis of kidney 8: Renal artery and Renal vein 9: Hilus 10: Calyx
Details
System	Urinary system
Identifiers
Latin	cortex renalis
MeSH	D007672
TA98	A08.1.01.015
TA2	3368
FMA	15581
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

The renal cortex is the part of the kidney where ultrafiltration occurs.^[2] Erythropoietin is produced in the renal cortex.^[3]

Additional images

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  Kidney
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  Microscopic cross section of the renal cortex
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  CD10 immunohistochemical staining of normal kidney. CD10 stains the proximal convoluted tubules and glomeruli.
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  Renal cortex
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  Renal cortex