<unk> s are specialized pericytes located among the glomerular capillaries within a renal corpuscle.
There are three primary functions of<unk> s: filtration, structural support, and phagocytosis.
Glomerular capillaries consist of endothelial cells with large fenestrations, and are therefore very permeable ("leaky") for most solutes in blood plasma.
They provide structural support for and regulate blood flow of the glomerular capillaries by their contractile activity.
They are also major contributors to the extracellular matrix which contains fibronectin, type IV collagen, perlecan, and laminin.
Mesangial cells also phagocytose glomerular basal lamina components and immunoglobulins.
Intraglomerular mesangial cell
Extraglomerular mesangial cell
Peritubular capillaries
Juxtaglomerular cell
Renal corpuscle
Granule cell
Renal tubule
Plasma cell