Renal pyramids

Organs · Latin: Pyramides renales

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The renal pyramids make up the medulla, the inner part of the kidney: 8 to 18 cone-shaped masses with their wide bases towards the cortex and their tips pointing into the renal sinus. They hold the loops of Henle and the collecting ducts, which build up a gradient of salt that lets the kidney make urine far more concentrated than blood and so save water. This model has nine in each kidney.