NEPHRON

• KEY FEATURES OF A NEPHRON?

  • Afferent Arteriole
  • Efferent Arteriole
  • Glomerulus
  • Bowman's Capsule
  • Proximal Convoluted Tubule
  • Loop of Henle (descending/ ascending limbs)
  • Distal Convoluted Tubule
  • Collecting Duct
  • Bladder
• RENAL (BOWMAN'S) CAPSULE?

  • closed end
  • cup-shaped
  • surrounds mass of blood capillaries (glomerulus)
  • inner layer made up of podocytes
• PROXIMAL CONVOLUTED TUBULE?

  • series of loops
  • surrounded by capillaries
  • walls made of epithelial cells and microvilli
• LOOP OF HENLE?

  • long, hairpin loop
  • extends from cortex into medulla and back again
  • surrounded by capillaries
• DISTAL CONVOLUTED TUBULE?

  • series of loops
  • surrounded by capillaries (fewer)
  • walls made of epithelial cells
• COLLECTING DUCT?

  • tube
  • where distal convoluted tubules from a number of nephrons empty
  • lined by epithelial cells
  • becomes increasingly wide as it empties into the pelvis of the kidney
• AFFERENT ARTERIOLE?

  • tiny vessel
  • arises from renal artery
  • supplies nephron with blood
  • enters renal capsule and forms glomerulus
• GLOMERULUS?

  • many-branched knot of capillaries
  • from which fluid is forced out of the blood
  • capillaries recombine to form efferent arteriole
• EFFERENT ARTERIOLE?

  • tiny vessel
  • leaves renal capsule
  • smaller diameter than afferent arteriole
  • increases blood pressure within glomerulus
  • carries blood away from renal capsule
  • branches to form capillaries
• BLOOD CAPILLARIES?

  • concentrated network of capillaries
  • surround proximal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle and distal convoluted tubule
  • where mineral salts, glucose and water are reabsorbed
  • merge together to form venules (which merge together to form the renal vein)