Renal Corpuscle

The renal corpuscle is like a tiny pouch or bag of blood vessels in your kidneys. Renal corpuscles are part of the nephrons in your kidneys. Nephrons filter your blood by reabsorbing certain substances and removing waste products and excess water, which leave your body through your pee. Most people have two kidneys, and each kidney has about 1 million nephrons.

“Renal” means it has to do with your kidneys. “Corpuscle” means a tiny body. Other names for the renal corpuscle (REEN-ul KAWR-puhs-uhl) include:

• Kidney corpuscle
• Malpighian body

What is the function of the renal corpuscle?

Renal corpuscles allow the nephrons in your kidneys to carry out the initial blood-filtering step. In healthy kidneys, nephrons work around the clock to remove waste products (filtrate) from your blood — they filter all the blood in your body over 50 times each day. The filtered waste products eventually leave your body in your pee. If nephrons didn’t filter waste products, the waste products would build up in your blood, which can make you sick and eventually cause death.

Where is the renal corpuscle located?

Renal corpuscles exist only in the renal cortex of your kidneys. The kidney cortex is the outer part of the kidney. It covers the inside part of your kidneys (renal medulla). Most people have a kidney on either side of their spines, between their intestines and diaphragm.

What two structures constitute the renal corpuscle?

The renal corpuscle is made up of the glomerulus and Bowman’s capsule:

• Glomerulus: This is a compact cluster or tuft of tiny, looped blood vessels (capillaries). The glomerulus (the word for more than one is glomeruli) receives blood from a very small blood vessel (afferent arteriole). The blood leaves through a different small blood vessel (efferent arteriole). Filtered waste products exit into a small tube (tubule) and leave your body in your pee.
• Bowman’s capsule: This is a two-walled pouch that covers the glomerulus. The Bowman’s capsule helps the glomerulus filter blood. It takes molecules that the glomerulus removes from your blood and sends them to blood vessels that eventually return them to your blood.

What does it look like?

Renal corpuscles are tiny, spherical structures that you need a microscope to see. They’re about 200 micrometers in diameter, slightly wider than a strand of your hair. They resemble a pouch or bag. But some also describe them as jellyfish-like.

The glomerulus consists of endothelial cells and mesangial cells. Vascular endothelial cells line all your blood vessels and help with blood flow. Mesangial cells also help with blood flow and help remove proteins and other molecules from the glomerulus.

The Bowman’s capsule consists of two layers. The other layer (parietal layer) is made of body tissue (simple squamous epithelium). The inner layer (visceral layer) consists of podocytes. Podocytes are cells that have stalks (pedicles) that link together to help filter protein and cell content from your blood.

What are the common conditions and disorders that affect the renal corpuscle?

Conditions and diseases that affect your kidneys also affect your renal corpuscle. These include:

• Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
• Glomerular diseases, like glomerulonephritis and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis
• High blood pressure
• Kidney inflammation (nephritis)

What are signs and symptoms something isn’t working right in your renal corpuscles?

Common signs that something is affecting your renal corpuscles — and kidneys as a whole — include:

• Blood in your pee
• Foamy pee
• Peeing more than usual (polyuria)
• Swelling (edema), especially in your hands, feet and ankles or around your eyes

Simple lifestyle changes or tips to keep renal corpuscles healthy

You can help keep your renal corpuscles healthy and prevent kidney problems in general by:

• Avoiding or quitting smoking
• Drinking plenty of water
• Getting regular physical activity (about 150 minutes per week)
• Managing your blood pressure
• Managing your blood sugar levels if you have diabetes
• Limiting your use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Lowering your salt intake
• Maintaining a healthy weight for you

It’s also a good idea to schedule annual checkups with your primary care provider. Annual checkups typically include blood tests or pee tests (urinalyses) to check your kidney health.

What is the difference between the renal corpuscle and Bowman’s capsule?

The Bowman’s capsule and glomerulus make up the renal corpuscle. The renal corpuscle is part of a nephron, which makes pee while removing waste products and other excess substances from your blood.