ultrafiltration in glomerulus

ultrafiltration: filters small molecules (water, glucose, ions, urea) → bowman's capsule, forms glomerular filtrate

larger molecules (proteins, blood cells) stay in bloodstream.

ultrafiltration process:

• Blood enter glomerulus via afferent arteriole.

• Blood exits via smaller efferent arteriole, creates high pressure.

• High pressure forces small molecules → pores in capillary endothelium.

• Molecules pass through basement membrane (filters out large molecules)

• Molecules move through Bowman's capsule epithelium, where podocytes help w filtration

• Filtered fluid (glomerular filtrate) collects in Bowman's capsule.

glomerular filtrate formation

• filtered: water, salts, glucose, urea.

• retained in blood: blood cells, platelets, proteins.

• reabsorbed: some useful substances from glomerular filtrate reabsorbed later in nephron

• glomerular filtration rate (GFR): measures filtrate volume formed per minute, indicates kidney efficiency