Urinary Tract, epithelium and connective tissue

Transitional epithelium (also sometimes called urothelium) and loose connective tissue comprise the mucosa of the urinary tract.

A transitional epithelium superficially resembles a nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium.  But note that the epithelial cells nearest to the apical (outer) surface are not flattened but cuboidal.

In this specimen from the renal pelvis, the connective tissue immediately beneath the epithelium is inconspicuous, obscured by a layer of smooth muscle (note elongated nuclei).  Beneath the smooth muscle is loose connective tissue, including conspicuous adipocytes (the clear round "bubbles").

Comments and questions: dgking@siu.edu

SIUC / School of Medicine / Anatomy / David King

https://histology.siu.edu/crr/RN022b.htm
Last updated:  30 May 2022 / dgk