What are the Key Histological Features of the Glomerulus?
The glomerulus is a tuft of capillaries enclosed by the Bowman's capsule. It is lined with endothelial cells and supported by mesangial cells and a basement membrane. The glomerular filtration barrier, consisting of fenestrated endothelium, a basement membrane, and podocytes, selectively filters blood based on size and charge. Podocytes have foot processes that interdigitate, forming slit diaphragms critical for filtration.
