Malpighian body

Malpighian Body

The Malpighian body or renal corpuscle is a crucial component of the kidney's microscopic functional unit, the nephron. Named after the Italian anatomist Marcello Malpighi, the Malpighian body is responsible for the initial stage of urine production in the process of blood filtration.

Structure

The Malpighian body comprises two main parts: the glomerulus and Bowman's capsule. The glomerulus is a network of tiny blood vessels (capillaries) located at the beginning of a nephron. Bowman's capsule is a cup-like sac that surrounds the glomerulus and collects the filtrate from the blood.

Function

The primary function of the Malpighian body is to filter blood and initiate the formation of urine. Blood enters the glomerulus under high pressure, causing water, glucose, salts, and waste products to be forced out of the blood vessels and into the Bowman's capsule. This filtrate then travels through the rest of the nephron, where useful substances are reabsorbed into the blood, and waste products are excreted as urine.

Clinical Significance

Damage or disease affecting the Malpighian body can lead to serious kidney conditions. For example, glomerulonephritis is an inflammation of the glomeruli, and nephrotic syndrome is a condition characterized by high levels of protein in the urine, low levels of protein in the blood, and swelling. Both conditions can lead to kidney failure if not treated promptly.

See Also

• Kidney
• Nephron
• Glomerulus
• Bowman's capsule
• Glomerulonephritis
• Nephrotic syndrome