the Nephron Flashcards
What is a nephron?
A nephron is a tube about 3cm long, located in the cortex and the medulla of the kidney.
List all parts to be labeled on a diagram of the structure of the nephron (13)
renal arteriole, glomerulus, afferent arteriole, efferent arteriole, renal vein, renal venule, capillary,
Distal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle (ascending limb), collecting ducts, urine to pelvis and ureter, loop of Henle (descending limb), proximal convoluted tubule, bowman’s capsule
What are Nephrons in terms of the kidney? (what do they do)
They are the functional units of the kidney (they make the urine)
How does blood enter each kidney?
Through the renal artery
Once blood enters the kidney what happens to the renal artery?
This vessel divides to form many renal arterioles, which then split, forming many smaller afferent (incoming) arterioles. each afferent arteriole divides to form a cluster of capillaries called a glomerulus.
Once blood enters the kidney what happens to the renal artery?
This vessel divides to form many renal arterioles, which then split, forming many smaller afferent (incoming) arterioles. each afferent arteriole divides to form a cluster of capillaries called a glomerulus.
Where can a glomerulus be found?
in each bowman’s capsule
What is a Bbowman’s capsule?
It is a cup-shaped structure at one end of the nephron
What does the blood do in the glomerulus (its path out of the kidney)
Blood leaves the glomerulus in the efferent (outgoing) arteriole. This then divides to form the capillaries that surround the rest of the nephron. these capillaries eventually rejoin to form renal venules, which then combine and emerge from the kidney as the renal vein
Plural of glomerulus
glomeruli
Where is urine produced in the kidneys?
In the nephron
What are the 3 main processes involved in urine production?
filtration, reabsorption, secretion
