Kidney Anatomy and Physiology

Structure Of Nephron And
Functions Of Its Parts

Nephron
Nephron, structural and functional unit of
the kidney. The word nephron is derived from
the Greek word nephros, meaning kidney.
They are the microscopic structure
composed of a renal corpuscle and a renal
tubule. There are about millions of nephrons
in each human kidney.
The structure that actually produces urine in
the process of removing waste and excess
substances from the blood.
Structure of Nephron
The mammalian nephron is a long tube-like
structure, its length varying from 35–55 mm long.
At one end, the tube is closed, folded and expanded,
into a double-walled, a cuplike structure called the
Bowman’s capsule or renal corpuscular capsule,
which encloses a cluster of microscopic blood
vessels called the glomerulus. This capsule and
glomerulus together constitute the renal corpuscle.
The structure of nephron comprises two major
portions:
1) Renal Corpuscle.
2) Renal Tubule.
Renal Corpuscle
The renal corpuscle consists of a
glomerulus surrounded by a Bowman’s
capsule. The glomerulus arises from an
afferent arteriole and empties into an
efferent arteriole.
The smaller diameter of an efferent
arteriole helps to maintain high blood
pressure and increases the hydrostatic
pressure in the glomerulus.
Glomerulus
The main function of the glomerulus is
to filter plasma to produce glomerular
filtrate, which passes down the length of
the nephron tubule to form urine.
Bowman's capsule
Bowman's capsule surrounds the
glomerular capillary loops and
participates in the filtration of blood
from the glomerular capillaries.
Bowman's capsule also has a structural
function and creates a urinary space
through which filtrate can enter the
nephron and pass to the proximal
convoluted tubule.
Renal Tubule
 The renal tubule is a long and convoluted structure that
emerges from the glomerulus and can be divided into
three parts based on function.
 The first part is called the proximal convoluted tubule
(PCT) due to its proximity to the glomerulus; it stays in
the renal cortex.
 The second part is called the loop of Henle or nephritic
loop because it forms a loop (with descending and
ascending limbs) that goes through the renal medulla.
 The third part of the renal tubule is called the distal
convoluted tubule (DCT) and this part is also restricted
to the renal cortex.
Renal Tubule
The major function of tubules is
reabsorption and the process can either
be through active transport or passive
transport.
In addition, secretions by tubules help in
the urine formation without affecting the
electrolyte balance of the body.
Proximal Convoluted Tubule (PCT)
Maximum reabsorption takes place in
PCT of the nephron. PCT is the region of
renal tubule where reabsorption of
essential substances like glucose,
proteins, amino acids, a major portion of
electrolytes and water takes place. PCT
selectively secretes ions such as
hydrogen, ammonia, and potassium into
the filtrate and absorbs HCO3– from it.
Proximal Convoluted Tubule (PCT)
The proximal tubule efficiently regulates
the pH of the filtrate by exchanging
hydrogen ions in the interstitium for
bicarbonate ions in the filtrate; it is also
responsible for secreting organic acids,
such as creatinine and other bases, into the
filtrate.
Thus, PCT maintains the electrolyte and
acid-base balance of the body fluids.
Loop of Henle
Loop of Henle has a descending and an
ascending limb. Being parts of the same loop,
both the descending and ascending limbs show
different permeability. The descending limb is
permeable to water but impermeable to an
electrolyte, while the ascending limb is
permeable to electrolytes but impermeable to
water. Since the electrolytes get reabsorbed at
the ascending loop of Henle, the filtrate gets
diluted as it moves towards the ascending limb.
But reabsorption is limited in this segment.
Distal Convoluted Tubule (DCT)
Similar to PCT, DCT also secretes ions
such as hydrogen, potassium, and NH3 into
the filtrate while reabsorbing the HCO3–
from the filtrate. Conditional reabsorption
of sodium ions and water takes place in
DCT.
It plays a critical role in a variety of
homeostatic processes and maintains the
pH and sodium-potassium level in the
blood cells.
Collecting Duct
Collecting duct is a long, straight tube
where H+ and K+ ions are secreted to
maintain the electrolyte balance of the
blood. This is also the region where the
maximum reabsorption of water takes
place to produce concentrated urine.
Renal collecting tubule collects urine
from the nephrons and moves it into
the renal pelvis and ureters.

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Structure Of Nephron And

Functions Of Its Parts

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