Structure of Nephrons

A nephron is the basic structural and functional unit of the kidney. It is responsible for filtering the blood and producing urine. A nephron consists of two main parts: a renal corpuscle and a renal tubule.

The renal corpuscle is the initial filtering component of the nephron. It is composed of a network of capillaries called the glomerulus, which is surrounded by a double-layered capsule called the Bowman’s capsule. The Bowman’s capsule collects the filtrate that passes through the glomerulus and transfers it to the renal tubule.

The renal tubule is a long and twisted tube that processes and carries away the filtrate from the renal corpuscle. It can be divided into three segments based on their function and location: the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT), the loop of Henle, and the distal convoluted tubule (DCT). The PCT is located in the renal cortex and reabsorbs most of the water, electrolytes, glucose, amino acids, and other essential substances from the filtrate. The loop of Henle extends into the renal medulla and creates a concentration gradient that helps in reabsorbing water and maintaining osmotic balance. The DCT is also located in the renal cortex and regulates the pH, blood pressure, and electrolyte balance by secreting or reabsorbing ions such as hydrogen, potassium, sodium, chloride, and bicarbonate.

The nephrons are connected to a collecting duct system that collects the urine from different nephrons and transports it to the renal pelvis, where it drains into the ureter. The ureter carries the urine to the urinary bladder, where it is stored until it is excreted through the urethra.

You can learn more about the structure and function of nephrons from these web sources:

• Nephron – Structure, Functions and Types of Nephron – BYJU’S
• Nephron | Definition, Function, Structure, Diagram, & Facts | Britannica
• Nephron – Wikipedia
• Nephrons: Structure and Types | Definition, Examples, Diagrams – Toppr
• Structure of a Nephron | Definition, Examples, Diagrams – Toppr.
• (1) Nephron – Structure, Functions and Types of Nephron – BYJU’S. https://byjus.com/biology/nephron-function-renal-tubules/.
• (2) Nephron | Definition, Function, Structure, Diagram, & Facts. https://www.britannica.com/science/nephron.
• (3) Nephron – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nephron.
• (4) Nephrons: Structure and Types | Definition, Examples, Diagrams – Toppr. https://www.toppr.com/ask/content/concept/advanced-knowledge-of-structure-of-nephron-201077/.
• (5) Structure of a Nephron | Definition, Examples, Diagrams – Toppr. https://www.toppr.com/ask/content/concept/structure-of-a-nephron-260018/.
• (6) Getty Images. https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/illustration/kidney-nephron-anatomy-vector-illustration-royalty-free-illustration/907993796.