The juxtaglomerular apparatus is a small sensing and signalling unit where the distal tubule touches the afferent arteriole of its own glomerulus. It combines the macula densa, which senses salt in the tubular fluid, with renin-producing granular cells in the arteriole wall. It links each nephron's filtration to blood pressure control.
| Location | At the vascular pole of each renal corpuscle in the cortex |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Nerve Supply | Renal plexus (sympathetic, stimulates renin release) |
| Blood Supply | Afferent arteriole |
Senses blood pressure and tubular salt delivery and releases renin to regulate blood pressure and glomerular filtration.
Renin released here starts the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, which raises blood pressure and retains salt. Narrowing of a renal artery reduces pressure at the apparatus and drives excess renin release, causing renovascular hypertension. ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers act on the downstream steps of this system.
High blood pressure caused by a narrowed renal artery that triggers excessive renin release.
A rare benign kidney tumour secreting renin, causing severe high blood pressure and low potassium.
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