Duct of Bellini

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Duct of Bellini
Position of the duct of Bellini in the kidney
Latin	ductus papillaris
Gray's	subject #253 1223
Dorlands/Elsevier	d_29/12314994

The duct of Bellini is an anatomical structure of the kidneys, also known as papillary (collecting) duct.

The straight or collecting tubes commence in the radiate part of the renal cortex, where they receive the curved ends of the distal convoluted tubules.

They unite at short intervals with one another, the resulting tubes presenting a considerable increase in caliber, so that a series of comparatively large tubes passes from the bases of the medullary rays into the renal pyramids.

In the medulla the tubes of each pyramid converge to join a central tube, the duct of Bellini, which finally opens on the summit of one of the renal papillae; the contents of the tube are therefore discharged into one of the renal calyces.

[edit] Eponym

So named in honor of its discoverer, Italian anatomist Lorenzo Bellini (1643-1704).

[edit] Cancer of Bellini's Duct

BDC, or Bellini duct carcinoma, is a rare and fast progressing kidney cancer.

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.

v • d • e Urinary system – Kidney Layers Renal fascia • Renal capsule • Renal cortex  (Renal column) • Renal medulla (Renal sinus, Renal pyramids, medullary interstitium) • Renal lobe • Cortical lobule • Medullary ray • Nephron Afferent circulation Renal artery → Segmental arteries → Interlobar arteries → Arcuate arteries → Cortical radial arteries → Afferent arterioles → Renal corpuscle (Glomerulus, Bowman's capsule) Renal tubule Proximal tubule → Loop of Henle (Descending, Thin ascending, Thick ascending) → Distal convoluted tubule → Connecting tubule → Collecting ducts → Duct of Bellini → Renal papilla → Minor calyx → Major calyx → Renal pelvis → Ureter Efferent circulation Glomerulus → Efferent arterioles → Peritubular capillaries / Vasa recta → Arcuate vein → Interlobar veins → Renal vein Juxtaglomerular apparatus Macula densa • Juxtaglomerular cells • Extraglomerular mesangial cell Filtration Glomerular basement membrane • Podocyte • Filtration slits • Intraglomerular mesangial cell • Tubular fluid Renal physiology Acid base physiology • Fluid balance