THE ARTERIOLA RECTA OF THE MAMMALIAN KIDNEY,’ 
BY 
G. CARL HUBER, 
From the Laboratory of Histology and Embryology of the 
University of Michigan. 
WitH 4 TrExtT FIGURES. 
In a comprehensive and relatively recent contribution on the blood 
supply of the mammahan kidney, Golubew * calls attention to the differ- 
ences of views still existing concerning the minute anatomy of this organ 
and states that of these controversial questions special mention may be 
made of the “ vasa recta of Henle and Donders or of the arteriole rectee 
of authors.” A study of the literature which is fully reviewed by Golu- 
bew leads him to state that at the time of his communication three views 
were current pertaining to the origin of the arteriole recte. According 
to one view, these vessels arise from the vasa efferentia of the glomeruli 
which lie nearest to the pyramid of the kidney, a view early expressed by 
Bowman who was followed by Gerlach, Kolliker, and Ludwig in their 
earlier writings. According to another view, recognition and prominence 
are given to the arterial branches forming straight medullary vessels 
which arise directly from the renal vessels and their branches without the 
interposition of glomeruli and known as the arteriole recte vere. Ac- 
cording to a further view maintained by Huschke and otier observers, the 
origin of the arteriole rect was traced to the capillary plexuses sur- 
rounding the tubules of the cortex of the kidney. Steinach, who denies 
the existence of arterial straight medullary branches, presents a view 
which cannot be included in the above classification and may be disre- 
garded as his observations have not met with acceptance. Virchow and 
many other observers who have followed him have to some extent har- 
monized these conflicting views by assuming what may be regarded as a 
middle position in that they recognize the arteriole rect vere, vessels 
1Golubew: Ueber die Blutgefasse der Niere der Saugetiere und des 
Menschen. International monatsschr. f. Anat. u. Physiol., Bd. X, 1898. Gives 
references to literature appearing before the date of his publication. 
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ANATOMY.—VOL. VI. 
31 
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