2.74B - Nephron Structure

Edexcel IGCSE Biology

What are the three regions of the kidney?

• Cortex - outermost region

• Medula - inner section

• Renal pelvis - tube connecting kidney to ureter

How many nephrons does each kidney contain?

Millions

Where are the nephrons located in the kidney?

Nephrons start in the cortex, loop into the medula, then back to the cortex

Where do the contents of the nephron drain into?

The renal pelvis

Where does the urine travel after the renal pelvis?

to the ureter, then to the bladder, then out of the body

List the order of sites in the nephron

• glomerulus

• Bowman’s capsule

• proximal convoluted tubule

• Loop of Henle

• distal convoluted tubule

• collecting duct