podocyte

A epithelial cell of the visceral layer of Bowman's capsule in the renal corpuscle. The podocyte foot process attaches to the glomerular capillary basement membrane. Foot processes of podocytes interdigitate with one another forming filtration slits (slit pores, slit diaphragm) that, in contrast to those in the glomerular endothelium, are spanned by diaphragms. Function: - plays a role in glomerular filtration

References

Stedman's Medical Dictionary 27th ed, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, 1999.