Podocytes

Highly differentiated epithelial cells of the visceral layer of BOWMAN CAPSULE of the KIDNEY. They are composed of a cell body with major CELL SURFACE EXTENSIONS and secondary fingerlike extensions called pedicels. They enwrap the KIDNEY GLOMERULUS capillaries with their cell surface extensions forming a filtration structure. The pedicels of neighboring podocytes interdigitate with each other leaving between them filtration slits that are bridged by an extracellular structure impermeable to large macromolecules called the slit diaphragm, and provide the last barrier to protein loss in the KIDNEY.

Year introduced: 2006

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Tree Number(s): A05.810.453.324.359.372.650, A05.810.453.736.520.720, A11.436.720

MeSH Unique ID: D050199

Entry Terms:

• Podocyte
• Epithelial Cells, Glomerular Visceral
• Glomerular Visceral Epithelial Cells
• Visceral Epithelial Cells, Glomerular

Previous Indexing:

• Kidney Glomerulus (1965-2005)

All MeSH Categories
Anatomy Category
Urogenital System
Urinary Tract
Kidney
Kidney Cortex
Kidney Glomerulus
Glomerular Filtration Barrier
Podocytes

All MeSH Categories
Anatomy Category
Urogenital System
Urinary Tract
Kidney
Nephrons
Kidney Glomerulus
Podocytes

All MeSH Categories
Anatomy Category
Cells
Epithelial Cells
Podocytes