Nephrons

Nephrons are the microscopic structural and functional units of the kidney. They are responsible for the filtration, reabsorption, and secretion processes that occur in the kidney, ultimately leading to the formation of urine.

Structure

Each nephron is composed of an initial filtering component (the "renal corpuscle") and a tubule specialized for reabsorption and secretion (the "renal tubule"). The renal corpuscle consists of a tuft of capillaries known as a glomerulus and an encompassing, cup-shaped Bowman's capsule. The renal tubule extends from the capsule.

Function

The primary function of a nephron is to regulate the concentration of water and soluble substances like sodium salts by filtering the blood, reabsorbing what is needed and excreting the rest as urine. The nephron accomplishes these tasks through three processes: glomerular filtration, tubular reabsorption, and tubular secretion.

Clinical significance

Damage to the nephrons can lead to several kidney diseases, such as glomerulonephritis, acute kidney injury, and chronic kidney disease. Treatment of these diseases may involve medication to reduce symptoms and slow disease progression, dialysis to perform the filtration functions of healthy nephrons, or kidney transplantation.

See also

• Kidney
• Renal physiology
• Renal function

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