What Is the Major Function of the Calyx?
The calyx is a portion of the human renal system, predominantly located in the kidney. The calyx is limited specifically to mammalian kidneys, and is part of the urinary collecting subsystem. The calyx is the method by which urine is passed from the kidney to the bladder.
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Renal Papilla
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Renal papilla are the tips of renal pyramids, themselves a collection of cone-shaped tubules in the renal medulla (the inner layer of the mammalian kidney). Urine forms in the kidney, passes into and through the tubes, through the apex of the tubes, and into the renal papilla. This could be considered the entrance to the calyx, by which urine is passed.
Minor Calyx
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The minor calyx extends on from the renal pyramid. One renal papilla (the apex of the renal pyramid) extends into the lumen, or inner tube, or a minor calyx. This provides a channel for urine to flow through, allowing it to pass into the next stage of the urinary system, the ureter.
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Major Calyx
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The major calyx is comprised of many minor calyces. Once the urine has been collected from all of the renal papillae, the collected urine is passed to the ureter through the major calyces, which are referred to in a bunch as the renal pelvis.
Ureter
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The ureter is the muscular tube that takes the urine collected by the renal papillae, minor calyx, major calyx and renal pelvis and then passes it to the bladder. It effectively functions as the duct of the kidney, allowing it to outprocess any waste and chemicals.
Bladder and Urethra
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The bladder and urethra are the end point for the urine gathered in the calyx, storing it in the body and then passing it out when the bladder is full, generally by passing a form of nervous signal to the brain that the bladder is full and needs to be emptied.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit sheep kidney image by PHOTOFLY from Fotolia.com
