A scanning electron microscope study of the human Bowman's epithelium.

The parietal epithelium of the Bowman's capsule in normal human kidney was studied by scanning electron microscopy. Stereoscopic scanning electron microscopy showed clearly that the Bowman's capsule, cut in half by a razor blade, was depressed hemispherically and coated with a flat layer of polygonal epithelial cells. The epithelial cell had a round, slightly elevated, and eccentrically located nuclear portion, and extended flat cytoplasmic layer from it toward the periphery. Tiny cytoplasmic projections, microvilli, were seen in varying degrees on the surface. One or two thin and long cilia were occasionally present around the nuclear portion.