Medullary ray (anatomy)

Medullary ray
Details
SystemUrinary system
Identifiers
Latinradii medullares
TA98A08.1.01.018
TA23378
FMA74299
Anatomical terminology

In anatomy, a medullary ray (Ferrein's pyramid) is the middle part of a cortical lobule (or renal lobule). Each consists of a group of nephrons in the renal cortex.[1] Their name is potentially misleading, as "medullary" refers to their destination, not their location. They travel perpendicular to the capsule, and extend from the cortex to the medulla. They may be visualised during urography.[1]

  1. ^ a b Bigongiari LR, Patel SK, Appelman H, Thornbury JR (December 1975). "Medullary rays. Visualization during excretory urography". The American Journal of Roentgenology, Radium Therapy, and Nuclear Medicine. 125 (4): 795–803. doi:10.2214/ajr.125.4.795. PMID 1211509.