Collecting duct system - wikipedia Collecting duct system It has been suggested that Connecting tubule be merged into this article. ( Discuss ) Proposed since August 2018. Collecting duct system Scheme of renal tubule and its vascular supply. Details Location Kidney Identifiers Latin tubulus renalis colligens MeSH D007685 FMA 265239 Anatomical terminology ( edit on Wikidata ) The collecting duct system of the kidney consists of a series of tubules and ducts that physically connect nephrons to a minor calyx or directly to the renal pelvis. The collecting duct system participates in electrolyte and fluid balance through reabsorption and excretion, processes regulated by the hormones aldosterone and vasopressin ( antidiuretic hormone ). There are several components of the collecting duct system, including the connecting tubules, cortical collecting ducts, and medullary collecting ducts. Contents 1 Structure 1.1 Segments 1.1. 1 Connecting tubule 1.1. 2 Medullary collecting duct 1.1. 3 Papillary duct 1.2 Cells 1.2. 1 Principal cells 1.2. 2 Intercalated cells 2 Function 3 See also 4 References 5 External links Structure Segments Simple columnar epithelium and simple cuboidal epithelium in the collecting ducts of the pig kidney. The walls of the large and small connecting tubules ( a and b respectively ), the circular structures, are formed by simple columnar epithelium ( a ) and simple cuboidal epithelium ( b ). The segments of the system are as follows : Segment Description connecting tubule initial collecting tubule Before convergence of nephrons cortical collecting ducts medullary collecting ducts papillary ducts Connecting tubule Main article : Connecting tubule With respect to the renal corpuscle, the `` connecting tubule '' is the most proximal part of the collecting duct system. It is adjacent to the distal convoluted tubule, the most distal segment of the renal tubule. Connecting tubules from several adjacent nephrons merge to form cortical collecting tubules, and these may join to form cortical collecting ducts. Connecting tubules of some juxtamedullary nephrons may arch upward, forming an arcade. The connecting tubule derives from the metanephric blastema, but the rest of the system derives from the ureteric bud. Because of this, some sources group the connecting tubule as part of the nephron, rather than grouping it with the collecting duct system. The initial collecting tubule is a segment with a constitution similar as the collecting duct, but before the convergence with other tubules. The `` cortical collecting ducts '' receive filtrate from multiple initial collecting tubules and descend into the renal medulla to form medullary collecting ducts. Medullary collecting duct `` Medullary collecting ducts '' are divided into outer and inner segments, the latter reaching more deeply into the medulla. The variable reabsorption of water and, depending on fluid balances and hormonal influences, the reabsorption or secretion of sodium, potassium, hydrogen and bicarbonate ion continues here. Urea passively transports out of duct here and creates 500mOsm gradient. The outer segment of the medullary collecting duct follows the cortical collecting duct. It reaches the level of the renal medulla where the thin descending limb of loop of Henle borders with the thick ascending limb of loop of Henle The inner segment is the part of the collecting duct system between the outer segment and the papillary ducts. Papillary duct Main article : Papillary duct The terminal portions of the medullary collecting ducts are the `` papillary ducts '', which end at the renal papilla and empty into a minor calyx. Cells Each component of the collecting duct system contains two cell types, intercalated cells and a segment - specific cell type : For the tubules, this specific cell type is the connecting tubule cell For the collecting ducts, it is the principal cell. The inner medullary collecting ducts contain an additional cell type, called the inner medullary collecting duct cell. Principal cells The principal cell mediates the collecting duct 's influence on sodium and potassium balance via sodium channels and potassium channels located on the cell 's apical membrane. Aldosterone determines expression of sodium channels ( especially the ENaC ). Increases in aldosterone increase expression of luminal sodium channels. Aldosterone also increases the number of Na + / K + - ATPase pumps that allow increased sodium reabsorption and potassium secretion. Vasopressin determines the expression of aquaporin channels that provide a physical pathway for water to pass through the principal cells. Together, aldosterone and vasopressin let the principal cell control the quantity of water that is reabsorbed. Intercalated cells Image depicting an α intercalated cell Intercalated cells come in α and β varieties and participate in acid - base homeostasis. Type of cell Secretes Reabsorbs α - intercalated cells acid ( via an apical H - ATPase and H / K exchanger ) in the form of hydrogen ions bicarbonate ( via band 3, a basolateral Cl / HCO exchanger ) β - intercalated cells bicarbonate ( via pendrin a specialised apical Cl / HCO ) acid ( via a basal H - ATPase ) For their contribution to acid - base homeostasis, the intercalated cells play important roles in the kidney 's response to acidosis and alkalosis. Damage to the α - intercalated cell 's ability to secrete acid can result in distal renal tubular acidosis ( RTA type I, classical RTA ) ( reference ). Function Diagram outlining movement of ions in nephron, with the collecting ducts on the right. The collecting duct system is the final component of the kidney to influence the body 's electrolyte and fluid balance. In humans, the system accounts for 4 -- 5 % of the kidney 's reabsorption of sodium and 5 % of the kidney 's reabsorption of water. At times of extreme dehydration, over 24 % of the filtered water may be reabsorbed in the collecting duct system. The wide variation in water reabsorption levels for the collecting duct system reflects its dependence on hormonal activation. The collecting ducts, in particular, the outer medullary and cortical collecting ducts, are largely impermeable to water without the presence of antidiuretic hormone ( ADH, or vasopressin ). In the absence of ADH, water in the renal filtrate is left alone to enter the urine, promoting diuresis. When ADH is present, aquaporins allow for the reabsorption of this water, thereby inhibiting diuresis. The collecting duct system participates in the regulation of other electrolytes, including chloride, potassium, hydrogen ions, and bicarbonate. See also Collecting duct carcinoma References Jump up ^ Boron, Walter F. ( 2005 ). Medical Physiology : A Cellular and Molecular Approach ( updated ed. ). Philadelphia : Elsevier / Saunders. ISBN 1 - 4160 - 2328 - 3. Jump up ^ May, Anne ; Puoti, Alessandro ; Gaeggeler, Hans - Peter ; Horisberger, Jean - Daniel ; Rossier, Bernard C ( 1997 ). `` Early Effect of Aldosterone on the Rate of Synthesis of the Epithelial Sodium Channel a Subunit in A6 Renal Cells '' ( PDF ). Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. 8 ( 12 ) : 1813 -- 1822. Retrieved 21 November 2017. ^ Jump up to : Guyton, Arthur C. ; John E. Hall ( 2006 ). Textbook of Medical Physiology ( 11 ed. ). Philadelphia : Elsevier Saunders. ISBN 0 - 7216 - 0240 - 1. Jump up ^ Schlatter, Eberhard ; Schafer, James A. ( 1987 ). `` Electrophysiological studies in principal cells of rat cortical collecting tubules ADH increases the apical membrane Na+ - conductance ''. Pflügers Archiv : European Journal of Physiology. 409 : 81. doi : 10.1007 / BF00584753. Jump up ^ Physiology : 7 / 7ch07 / 7ch07p17 - Essentials of Human Physiology -- `` Intercalated Cells '' External links Histology at KUMC epithel - epith04 `` Collecting Duct ( Kidney ) '' Histology image : 15803loa -- Histology Learning System at Boston University -- `` Urinary System : kidney, medulla, collecting duct and ascending tubule '' Histology image : 16013loa -- Histology Learning System at Boston University -- `` Urinary System : kidney, H&E, collecting duct and ascending tubule '' Anatomy of the urinary system Kidneys Layers Fascia Capsule Cortex column Medulla sinus pyramids medullary interstitium Lobe Cortical lobule Medullary ray Nephron Circulation Arteries Renal artery segmental interlobar arcuate interlobular afferent Veins Renal vein Peritubular capillaries Vasa recta arcuate interlobar efferent Nephron Renal corpuscle Glomerulus Bowman 's capsule Glomerular basement membrane Podocyte Filtration slits Mesangium Intraglomerular mesangial cell Renal tubule Proximal convoluted tubule Loop of Henle Descending Thin ascending Thick ascending Distal convoluted tubule Collecting duct system Connecting tubule Papillary duct Tubular fluid Renal papilla Minor calyx Major calyx Renal pelvis Juxtaglomerular apparatus Macula densa Juxtaglomerular cells Mesangium Extraglomerular mesangial cell Ureters Ureteropelvic junction Bladder Apex Uvula Neck Median umbilical ligament Muscular layer Trigone Detrusor Mucosa Submucosa Urethra Urethral sphincters External sphincter male female Internal sphincter Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Collecting_duct_system&oldid=854117734 '' Categories : Kidney anatomy Hidden categories : Pages with unresolved properties Articles to be merged from August 2018 All articles to be merged Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Français 日本 語 Português Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Edit links This page was last edited on 9 August 2018, at 02 : 21 ( UTC ). 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Question: what is the collecting system of the kidney
Answer: a series of tubules and ducts