Podocytes are specialised epithelial cells that coat the outer walls of glomerular capillaries.
Slit diaphragms are a type of cell connection that connects the foot processes of adjacent podocytes.
They contain components of adherens, tight, and gap junctions, as well as nephrin and neph family proteins.
Podocytes are important in glomerular filtration because they prevent plasma proteins from entering the urine ultrafiltrate by forming a barrier that consists of filtration slits between foot processes, which together form a dynamic network of cellular extensions.
