adaptations and Functions of the Nephron Flashcards
Bowman’s capsule
-the filtrate (the fluid containing waste and small solutes) enters the Bowman’s capsule after ultrafiltration
-collects the fluid filtered from the blood in the glomerulus. It starts the process of turning that fluid into urine by moving it into the kidney tubules.
Proximal convoluted tubule (PCT)
-Which Helps reabsorb essential substances like water, glucose, and ions from the filtered fluid (filtrate) back into the blood.
Loop oh Henle
- Retain water in the body by reabsorbing water and sodium chloride (salt) from fluid passing through it.
-Essential for concentrating urine and maintaining the body’s water balance.
Distal convoluted tubule (DCT)
*Reabsorb more water and salts (mainly sodium and chloride).
*Help eliminate extra waste (such as hydrogen ions and potassium).
*Maintain the body’s chemical balance, including pH and electrolyte levels.
Collecting duct
-Is to collect urine from the nephrons,
-reabsorb water, and help balance the body’s fluids and electrolytes.
It also moves urine then into the renal pelvis which then moves it to ureters
The adaptations of the nephron include:
-Long loop of Henle: Helps concentrate urine and conserve water.
-Bowman’s capsule: Has a large surface area for filtering blood.
-Proximal convoluted tubule (PCT): Has many microvilli to increase -surface area for reabsorbing water, glucose, and ions.
-Thin walls of the loop of Henle: Allow efficient movement of water and salts.
-Distal convoluted tubule (DCT): Fine-tunes reabsorption of water and salts to maintain balance.
Glomerulus
-Part of the nephron that helps filter blood.
-Has many tiny blood vessels under high pressure to push water, salts, and waste and small molecules into the Bowman’s capsule, starting the process of making urine. whilst the larger molecule return to the bloodstream.
