Nephrons

• Nephron

  
  

  • basic functional units of the kidney
  • tiny kidney tubules where the urine is formed
  • the ureter drains the urine into the urinary bladder for removal
  • Consists of the Bowman's capsule, proximal convoluted tubule, loop of Henlé, distal convoluted tubule and the collecting duct

  
• Blood Capillaries Around the Nephron

  1. Afferent arteriole, a small branch of the renal artery that carries blood into the glomerulus
  2. Glomerulus, a knot of blood capillaries in the Bowman's capsule
  3. Efferent arteriole, transports blood away from the glomerulus
  4. Blood capillaries surrounding the nephron, eventually lead into a branch of the renal vein

  
• Nephron - Bowman's Capsule

  • Each nephron begins in the outer region of the kidney as a cup like structure called the Bowman's capsule
• Nephrons - Convoluted tubule

  • proximal (first) convoluted tubule : the capsule leads into the short, proximal convoluted tubule, which straightens out as it passes into the inner region of the kidney
  • distal (second) convoluted tubule : the part where the tubule enters the inner region of the kidney and becomes convoluted again.
• Nephrons - Loop of Henlé


  • the u shaped portion of the tubule where the tubule extends further in the inner region of the kidney and makes a u turn back into the outer region
• Nephrons - Collecting Duct

  • the tubule opens into the collecting duct that runs straight through the inner region
  • opens into a funnel like space that leads to the ureter