Nephrons, Filtration Membranes & Capillaries

Nephron definition

structural and functional unit of kidney

Number of nephrons

over 1 million per kidney

Glomerulus

tuft of capillaries in nephron

Renal tubule

tube including glomerular capsule PCT loop of Henle DCT and collecting duct

Glomerular capsule

Bowman’s capsule cup-shaped end of tubule

Podocytes

cells forming filtration slits

Renal corpuscle

glomerular capsule and glomerulus together

Proximal convoluted tubule

coiled tubule leaving capsule

Loop of Henle

hairpin loop after PCT

Distal convoluted tubule

tubule after loop of Henle

Collecting ducts

receive urine and empty into papillary ducts

Filtrate definition kidney

material filtered into glomerular capsule

Urine formation

filtrate reaching collecting ducts

Glomerular capillaries

fenestrated capillaries producing filtrate

Filtration pores

allow solute-rich material into capsule

Afferent arteriole

arteriole feeding glomerulus

Efferent arteriole

arteriole draining glomerulus

High glomerular pressure

forces fluid and solutes into capsule

Peritubular capillaries

capillaries absorbing solutes and water reclaimed from filtrate