This electron micrograph shows a red blood cell caught in the act of traversing the glomerular capillary wall through a breach in its basement membrane. Several aggregated platelets are at the ready to “plug” the hole.
Few red cells have already traveled downstream and are found in the urinary space (US).
Those RBCs that reach the proton-secreting segments of the distal tubules in the company of protein-containing filtrate will be incorporated into a RBC cast due to the denaturing action of the acid environment.
CL=capillary lumen. RBC=Red blood cell. Plt=Platelet. US=Urinary space.
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Answer for Image Quiz 12/21/11:
The photomicrograph shows a high powered electron micrograph of a normal glomerulus. Please identify structures A-G.
The photomicrograph shows a high powered electron micrograph of a normal glomerulus. Please identify structures A-G.
The image shows the endothelial cell (A), the interdigitating foot processes (B)
of the visceral epithelial cell (C), the urinary space (D). The bottom the capillary lumen (F), the fenestrated endothelium (E), the glomerular basement membrane proper (G), and notice the filtration slit diaphragms
near the base of the foot processes (E)
