The Kidney

Question 0

Describe the structure of the nephron

Answer 0

• each nephron starts in the cortex, in the cortex the capillaries form a knot called the glomerulus, this is surrounded by the bowman’s capsule
• fluid from the blood is pushed into the capsule by ultrafiltration
• the fluid leaves the capsule and flows through the nephron starting with the proximal convoluted tubule and then into the medulla for the loop of Henle which is a hairpin counter current multiplier
• here the composition of the fluid is altered by selective reabsorption
• substances are reabsorbed back into the tissue fluid and capillaries surrounding the nephron tubule
• the fluid then passes into the distal convoluted tubule and then into the collecting duct as urine

DIAGRAM

Question 1

Describe the structure of the kidney

Answer 1

• each kidney is supplied with blood from a renal artery and is drained by a renal vein
• urine passes out of the kidney down the ureter to the bladder where it can be stored before release
• the outer region of a longitudinal section of a kidney is called the cortex
• the inner region is called the medulla
• in the centre is the pelvis which leads into the ureter

DIAGRAM