Nephrons (kidney) Flashcards
Nephrons
are the structural and func- tional units of the kidneys and are responsible for forming urine.
Two main structures
renal corpuscle and renal tubule
The renal corpuscle consists of a
Glomerulus
Glomerulus
glom = little ball
knot of capillaries
Bowman’s capsule (glomerular capsule)
a cup-shaped hollow structure that completely surrounds the glomerulus like a well-worn base- ball glove encloses a ball. This portion is called
Podocytes
the inner visceral layer of bowman’s capsule which is made up of highly modified octopus-like cells
(have: long branch- ing extensions called foot processes and openings called filtration slits)
Filtration slits
allow podocytes to form a porous membrane around the glomerulus ideal for filtration
Foot processes
long branching extensions that intertwine with one another and cling to the glomerulus
Renal tubule
makes up the rest of the nephron
- about 3cm (1.25 inches long)
- extends from the glomerular capsule, it coils and twists before forming a hairpin loop
PCT
Proximal convoluted tubule
AKA Loop of henle
Nephron loop
DCT
Distal convoluted tubule
Cortical Nephrons
-most nephrons
-located almost entirely within the cortex
Juxtamedullary nephrons
situated close to the cortex-medulla junction, and their nephron loops dip deep into the medulla
Collecting Ducts
receives urine from many nephrons,
run downward through the medullary pyramids, giving the pyramids a striped appearance.
