Department of Anatomy, Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences, Banashankari II stage, Bangalore
Aging is a biological process from which no living being is exempt and a universal effect of aging is the gradual loss of functioning cells from many organs and tissues. Like most other organs kidney also undergoes various structural changes with advancing age. The present study was carried out to assess the ageing process in kidneys belonging to South Indian masses. The study was carried out on 60 human kidneys obtained from post mortem bodies of South Indian people aged from 14 years to 80 years. The collected sample was divided into four age groups. They are as follows, group A (0–20 years), group B (21–40 years) group C (41–60 years) and group D (61–80). Morph metric parameters like weight, length, breadth and thickness were recorded. Results were analyzed statistically. Random slides from each group were studied for histological changes. From the present study it can be concluded that a number of structural changes occur in the kidney with aging. The aging kidney is characterized by loss of renal weight, breadth and thickness associated with arterial sclerosis, an increased number of sclerotic glomeruli, loss of tubules and interstitial fibrosis.
Kidneys, Age, Histological Changes, Nephrons
