158 



NORMAL HISTOLOGY. 



Within the Malpighian body the afferent vessel divides abruptly 

 into a number of capillary loops, which are compacted together to 

 form a globular mass, called the " glomerulus " (Fig. 133). These 

 loops rejoin to form the "efferent" vessel, which is somewhat 

 smaller than the afferent vessel, and leaves the Malpighian body 

 at a point close to that at which the afferent vessel enters it. 



FIG. 134. 



Sketch of a Malpighian body from kidney of a rabbit : a, interlobular artery ; 6, afferent 

 vessel ; c, capillary springing from afferent vessel ; d, Bowman's capsule, with epithelial 

 lining reflected upon the surface of the glomerulus ; e, cavity of the capsule into which 

 the watery constituents of the urine are first discharged; /, beginning of a uriniferous 

 tubule ; g, convoluted tubules of the labyrinth. Between these tubules and the capsule 

 are capillary bloodvessels derived from the efferent vessel (which is not shown, but 

 emerges from the capsule near the afferent vessel, on a different level from that repre- 

 sented). These and other structures are held in place by an areolar tissue, containing 

 lymphatic spaces, some of which are represented. 



Soon after leaving the Malpighian body the efferent vessel breaks 

 up into a second set of capillaries, which lie among the convoluted 

 tubules of the labyrinth and also penetrate into the medullary rays, 

 to be distributed between the tubules composing them. This capil- 

 lary network extends also into the pyramid, in which the capilla- 



