The nephron is the functional unit of the kidney that is responsible for maintai

Question

The nephron is the functional unit of the kidney that is responsible for maintaining fluid and mineral balance in the blood by controlling the processes of filtration, absorption, and secretion. Link together the major parts of the nephron and explain how blood and filtrate are transported through the discrete parts of the nephron. Your answer must address the following structures: Loop of Henle, distal collecting tubule, Bowman’s capsule, proximal collecting tubule, afferent arteriole, peritubular capillaries, efferent arteriole, glomerulus, and the afferent arteriole.

Explanation / Answer

Afferent arteriole which carries blood(impure) enters the Bowman capsule with high pressure. Bowman capsule consists of glomerulus which is a network of capillaries. Blood is filtered across the glomerulus capillaries into bowman space. This is the first step of urine formation. After the filteration the pure blood leaves the bowman capsule via efferent arteriole. Peritubular capillaries are supplied by the efferent arteriole that travel along side nephron and helps in reabsorption and secretion between blood and inner lumen of nephron. The filterate which enters bowman space now comes to renal tubules where urine continually forms. Renal tubule consists of various parts such as proximal convulated tubule, loop of henle, distal convulated tubule and collecting duct. The renal tubule function is reabsorption, secretion and excretion. In proximal convulated tubule substances like amino acids, glucose and salts are resbsorbed and some unwanted materials are added in the filtetate(urine). The filterate then moves to loop of henle where more water is absorbed. Now the filterate moves upward to distal convulated tubule where sodium is reabsorbed and potassium and hydrogen ion is secreted in the urine. The urine finally enters collecting duct and gets collected there. From there it goes to ureter and then to urinary bladder and then urine is expelled out via urethra.

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