Major calyx

Major calyx
1. Renal triangle 2. Efferent 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. Afferent vein 13. Nephron 14. Minor calyx 15. Major calyx 16. Renal papilla 17. Renal column
Frontal section through the kidney
Latin	calices renales majores
Gray's	subject #254 1225
Precursor	Ureteric bud
MeSH	Kidney+calices

Two or three minor calyces converge to form a major calyx. The major calyx, in the kidney, surrounds the apex of the renal pyramids. Urine formed in the kidney passes through a renal papilla at the apex into a minor calyx then into major calyx before passing through the renal pelvis into the ureter.

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.

Additional images

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  Vertical section of kidney.

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See also

• Renal pyramids
• Renal medulla

External links

• SUNY Labs 40:06-0109 - "Posterior Abdominal Wall: Internal Structure of a Kidney"
• Histology at BU 15901loa - "Urinary System: neonatal kidney"
• posteriorabdomen at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (renalpelvis)
• Diagram at bway.net