Renal calyx

Renal calyx
Kidney, with major and minor calyces labeled near bottom.
1. Renal pyramid 2. Interlobular artery 3. Renal artery 4. Renal vein 5. Renal hilum 6. Renal pelvis 7. Ureter 8. Minor calyx 9. Renal capsule 10. Inferior renal capsule 11. Superior renal capsule 12. Interlobar vein 13. Nephron 14. Renal sinus 15. Major calyx 16. Renal papilla 17. Renal column
Details
Latin	calices renales
Precursor	Ureteric bud
Identifiers
MeSH	A05.810.453.537.503
Dorlands /Elsevier	c_03/12206023
TA
TH	{{#property:P1694}}
TE	{{#property:P1693}}
FMA	{{#property:P1402}}
Anatomical terminology [[[d:|edit on Wikidata]]]

The renal calyces are chambers of the kidney through which urine passes. The minor calyces surround the apex of the renal pyramids. Urine formed in the kidney passes through a renal papilla at the apex into the minor calyx; two or three minor calyces converge to form a major calyx, through which urine passes before continuing through the renal pelvis into the ureter.

Function

Peristalsis of the smooth muscle originating in pace-maker cells originating in the walls of the calyces propels urine through the renal pelvis and ureters to the bladder.

Clinical significance

Example of a "staghorn" kidney stone projecting into the renal calyces

A "Staghorn calculi" is a kidney stone that may extend into the renal calyces.

A renal diverticulum is diverticulum of renal calyces.

See also

• Renal pyramids
• Renal medulla

External links

• Anatomy photo:40:06-0108 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Posterior Abdominal Wall: Internal Structure of a Kidney"
• Anatomy photo:40:06-0109 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Posterior Abdominal Wall: Internal Structure of a Kidney"
• Histology image: 15901loa – Histology Learning System at Boston University - "Urinary System: neonatal kidney"
• posteriorabdomen at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (renalpelvis)
• Diagram at bway.net