Abstract
The renal medulla, the inner compartment of the metanephric kidney, has a vital role in the regulation of body water and electrolyte homeostasis and systemic blood pressure. It is composed of the medullary collecting ducts, the loops of Henle, the vasa recta, and the medullary interstitium. The urine concentration ability of a renal medulla is related to the length of this region among species. In this chapter, current understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the elongation of the medullary collecting duct and the loops of Henle and their roles in renal medulla formation and extension is summarized. Renal medulla blunting and effacement is a common symptom of many forms of renal and urological destruction. Increased knowledge about renal medulla formation should assist efforts in repair and regeneration of damaged renal medullae, to improve renal physiology in disease and injured situations.
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