The urinary space, also known as Bowman's space or the capsular space, is located between the visceral and parietal layers of Bowman's capsule in the kidney.
Understanding the Urinary Space
To understand the location of the urinary space, it's helpful to break down the components of the renal corpuscle:
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Bowman's Capsule: This is a cup-like structure surrounding the glomerulus. It has two layers:
- Parietal Layer: The outer layer of Bowman's capsule.
- Visceral Layer: The inner layer that lies directly over the glomerular capillaries. This layer is made up of specialized cells called podocytes.
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Glomerulus: A network of capillaries where filtration of blood occurs.
Location Explained
The urinary space is the space between the visceral and parietal layers of Bowman's capsule. After blood is filtered through the glomerulus and its filtration slits, the filtrate enters this space. From there, it flows into the proximal convoluted tubule and the rest of the nephron.
| Component | Location |
|---|---|
| Urinary Space | Between the visceral and parietal layers of Bowman's Capsule. |
| Visceral Layer | Lies just above the thickened glomerular basement membrane and is made of podocytes. |
| Parietal Layer | Forms the outer wall of Bowman's capsule. |
In summary, the urinary space provides a collection point for the filtrate after it passes through the filtration barrier of the glomerulus.
