View source for Thin segment of loop of Henle

The '''thin segment''' is a part of the renal tubule found between the [[Proximal tubule|proximal]] and [[Distal convoluted tubule|distal tubules]]. The renal tubule and the [[renal corpuscle]] together comprise the [[nephron]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Histology : a text and atlas : with correlated cell and molecular biology|last=Ross, Michael H.|date=2011|publisher=Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Health|others=Pawlina, Wojciech.|isbn=9780781772006|edition=  6th|location=Philadelphia|oclc=548651322}}</ref>
The thin segment is described as a U-shaped band, consisting of the two continuous parts:
*[[descending limb of loop of Henle]]
*[[ascending limb of loop of Henle]]
==Histology==
<!--Loop of Henle thin segment cell redirect here-->Both limbs of the loop of Henle are lined with the [[simple squamous epithelium]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Junqueira's basic histology : text and atlas|last=Mescher, Anthony L.|others=Junqueira, Luiz Carlos Uchôa, 1920-|isbn=9780071807203|edition=  Thirteenth|location=New York|oclc=854567882|date = 2013-02-22}}</ref> Their main function is to regulate the levels of [[water]] and solutes in the primary [[urine]]. The [[basement membrane]] of the thin limb in humans has very uniform nodular thickenings that form a network that surrounds the tubule and acts as a support structure that is homologous to the collenchyma in [[plant]]s. Smith, RA et al. (Arch Pathol Lab Med Vol 108, May 1984) have designated these nodules "Belliveau Bodies" after Robert Belliveau the pathologist who originally described these structures.<ref>[https://histo.life.illinois.edu/histo/lab/kidney/kidney.htm University of Illinois College of Medicine]</ref>
== See also ==
*[[List of distinct cell types in the adult human body]]
*[[List of human cell types derived from the germ layers]]
==References==
<references/>
[[Category:Kidney anatomy]]
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