part of part of kidney cortex artery cell interlobular artery cell Any kidney cortex artery cell that is part of some interlobular artery. Cells located in the interlobular artery play a crucial role in the kidney's arterial and microcirculatory system. These arteries are integral to the renal vasculature, with their walls containing smooth muscle cells. These cells have the responsibility of regulating blood flow to the nephrons, which serve as the functional units of the kidney. Additionally, they participate in autoregulation, ensuring a consistent renal blood flow despite variations in systemic blood pressure. The health or functionality of these cells is paramount, as issues could potentially result in kidney dysfunction, emphasizing their vital contribution to overall health and homeostasis. (This extended description was generated by ChatGPT and reviewed by the CellGuide team, who added references, and by the CL editors, who approved it for inclusion in CL. It may contain information that applies only to some subtypes and species, and so should not be considered definitional.) KUPO:0001081 https://cellxgene.cziscience.com/cellguide/CL_1001138 interlobular artery