part of nephron epithelium development macula densa development The process whose specific outcome is the progression of the macula densa over time, from its formation to the mature structure. The macula densa is an area of specialized cells in the distal tubule that makes contact with the vascular pole of the glomerulus. biological_process mah 2010-01-25T02:40:15Z GO:0072024 juxtaglomerular apparatus development