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Fig.1) Schematic diagram of the nephron (yellow), relevant circulation (red/blue), and the four methods of altering the filtrate. The nephron is the functional unit of the kidney. [3] This means that each separate nephron is where the main work of the kidney is performed. A nephron is made of two parts:
The basic physiologic mechanisms of handling fluid and electrolytes by the nephron - filtration, secretion, reabsorption, and excretion - are labelled. Assessment of kidney function occurs in different ways, using the presence of symptoms and signs , as well as measurements using urine tests, blood tests, and medical imaging.
Each nephron begins in a renal corpuscle, which is composed of a glomerulus enclosed in a Bowman's capsule. Cells, proteins, and other large molecules are filtered out of the glomerulus by a process of ultrafiltration , leaving an ultrafiltrate that resembles plasma (except that the ultrafiltrate has negligible plasma proteins ) to enter Bowman ...
The nephron by itself is similar to pronephros as a whole organ. [18] The simplest nephrons are found in the pronephros, which is the final functional organ in primitive fish . [ 19 ] The nephrons of the mesonephros, the functional organ in most anamniotes called opisthonephros , [ 20 ] are slightly more complex than those of the pronephros. [ 19 ]
English: A modern illustration of the basic physiology of a nephron within a kidney. The labels are: 1. Glomerulus, 2. Efferent arteriole, 3. Bowman's capsule, 4. Proximal tube, 5.
In contrast, the epithelium transitions to a simple squamous type in the thin segment, which is less metabolically active and has minimal surface specializations. The presence of aquaporin-1 channels in the thin segment facilitates high water permeability, crucial for water reabsorption as part of the kidney's countercurrent exchange mechanism .
The nephron is the structural and functional unit of the kidney. Each adult human kidney contains around 1 million nephrons, while a mouse kidney contains only about 12,500 nephrons. The kidneys also carry out functions independent of the nephrons.
Within the nephron of the kidney, the ascending limb of the loop of Henle is a segment of the heterogenous loop of Henle downstream of the descending limb, after the sharp bend of the loop. This part of the renal tubule is divided into a thin and thick ascending limb ; the thick portion is also known as the distal straight tubule , in contrast ...