Nephron Structure

• Regions of the kidney

  • Cortex
  • Medulla
  • Renal pelvis
• Nephrons


  Tiny structures in the kidney, also known as kidney tubules or renal tubules
• Each kidney contains around a million nephrons
• Kidney


  Consists of 3 regions: Cortex, Medulla, Renal pelvis
• Nephron structure


  1. Start in the cortex, loop down into the medulla and back up to the cortex

  2. Contents of the nephrons drain into the renal pelvis

  3. Urine collects in the renal pelvis before flowing into the ureter

  4. Carried to the bladder for storage
• Sections of the nephron

  • Bowman's capsule
  • Proximal convoluted tubule
  • Loop of Henlé
  • Distal convoluted tubule
  • Collecting duct
• Nephron


  • Surrounded by a network of capillaries
  • Has a knotted section inside the Bowman's capsule