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The Development Of The Kidneys

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The embryological development of the kidneys occurs in three successive phases: the pronephros, the mesonephros, and the metanephros. Because of the nature in this development, there are many forms of congenital abnormalities associated with the kidneys. Because of their close developmental association, there is also a complex relationship between the reproductive system and the urinary system. During the pronephros phase in foetal development, by day 22, the intermediate mesoderm (identified lateral to the paraxial mesoderm) gives rise to nephrotomes (nephric vesicles) in the cervical region via the transformation of epithelial cells. The collection of the nephrotomes is referred to as the pronephros and will proceed to develop in a cephalo-caudal direction. However, the pronephros is non-functional and will atrophy within a few days. By day 23, the next phase of epithelial cells are induced to develop (lateral to the somite) by the pronephric duct as it elongates caudally into the thoracic region. The new epithelial tubules (mesonephric tubules) continue to receive a blood supply from capillary tufts branched from the dorsal aorta. The mesonephric tubules envelope the capillary tuft and are analogous to Bowman’s capsules and glomerulus, respectively. These tubules are now functioning for a short period of time to filtrate the blood into the continuation of the pronephric duct, now known as the mesonephric duct or Wolffian duct. Between 24 and 26 days, the mesonephric

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