Nephron

The nephron is the main structural and functional unit of the kidney, ensuring effective filtration of blood and formation of urine. Each kidney contains about 2 million nephrons, and together they form a complex system of tubules, which together reach a length of up to 100 km.

The nephron consists of a renal corpuscle and a tubule, which begins with the glomerular capsule (Shumlyansky-Boumsn). The glomerular capsule surrounds the glomerulus of blood capillaries, forming the renal (Malpighian) corpuscle. The primary urine then passes through the proximal tubule, followed by the loop of nephron (loop of Henle), consisting of a descending and ascending portion. After this, primary urine passes through the distal part of the tubule and flows into the collecting duct, which opens into the papillary duct.

One of the key processes occurring in the nephron is the filtration of blood in the renal corpuscle. The afferent arteriole breaks up into glomerular capillaries, through the walls of which primary urine is filtered into the lumen of the capsule. Primary urine contains water, nitrogen-containing waste products of the body, as well as many other substances (with the exception of colloids).

Then the process of reabsorption occurs, in which most of the substances contained in the primary urine return to the bloodstream and are used by the body. Reabsorption occurs in the nephron tubules and also in the collecting duct. As a result of this process, the final composition of urine is formed.

Nephrons play a key role in regulating the water-salt balance of the body, as well as in removing metabolic products. Impaired nephron function can lead to various kidney diseases, such as acute and chronic kidney disease, nephrotic syndrome, glomerulonephritis and others. Therefore, it is important to monitor your health and seek medical help at the first sign of kidney dysfunction.

A nephron is a structural and functional unit of the kidneys, which consists of a renal corpuscle and a long tubule. Each kidney contains about 2 million nephrons. The length of all their tubules is about 100 kilometers.

The nephron begins as a two-walled goblet-shaped structure called the glomerular capsule. It envelops the glomerulus of capillaries and forms the renal corpuscle. The proximal part of the tubule continues from the capsule cavity into the nephron loop. The nephron loop consists of a descending and ascending section, which pass into the distal tubule, which drains into the collecting duct.

The afferent arteriole divides into capillaries, which filter primary urine through the wall of the glomerular capsule. Primary urine passes through the proximal tubule, where it is concentrated and formed into secondary urine. Secondary urine then passes through the nephron loop and distal tubule and enters the ureter, from where it is excreted from the body.

Thus, the nephron is a complex organ that performs many functions, including filtering blood, concentrating urine, and excreting it from the body. Knowledge of the structure and function of the nephron helps to better understand the function of the kidney and provides the basis for the development of new treatments for kidney disease.