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Questions and Answers
What is the functional unit of the kidney?
What is the functional unit of the kidney?
Which structure within the nephron filters blood plasma?
Which structure within the nephron filters blood plasma?
What forms the selective barriers for filtration in the nephron?
What forms the selective barriers for filtration in the nephron?
Where are the podocytes located within the nephron?
Where are the podocytes located within the nephron?
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What do pedicels of podocytes create to aid in filtration in the nephron?
What do pedicels of podocytes create to aid in filtration in the nephron?
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Which blood vessels carry blood into and out of the glomerulus, respectively?
Which blood vessels carry blood into and out of the glomerulus, respectively?
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What is the function of the juxtaglomerular apparatus (JGA)?
What is the function of the juxtaglomerular apparatus (JGA)?
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Which type of nephrons make up the majority in each kidney?
Which type of nephrons make up the majority in each kidney?
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What is the main function of the Loop of Henle in the nephron?
What is the main function of the Loop of Henle in the nephron?
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Where do the distal convoluted tubules of many nephrons empty into?
Where do the distal convoluted tubules of many nephrons empty into?
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In which region does the descending limb of the Loop of Henle dip into?
In which region does the descending limb of the Loop of Henle dip into?
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What type of epithelium lines the descending limb of the Loop of Henle?
What type of epithelium lines the descending limb of the Loop of Henle?
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Study Notes
The Nephron: Functional Unit of the Kidney
- Composed of blood vessels and tubules that collect filtrate, ultimately turning it into urine
- Each nephron receives one afferent arteriole, which divides into the glomerulus and reunites to form an efferent arteriole
Glomerular Corpuscle
- Renal Corpuscle Filters blood plasma, consists of two structures:
- Glomerular capillaries: Glomerulus
- Glomerular capsule (Bowman’s capsule)
- Glomerular capsule has two layers:
- Visceral layer with podocytes in inner wall of capsule that wrap pedicels around single layer of endothelial cells
- Parietal layer forms outer wall of capsule
Filtration Membrane
- Formed by endothelial cells of glomerular capillaries and podocytes
- Consists of three selective barriers:
- Glomelular endothelial cells with fenestrations (pores)
- Basement membrane between endothelium and podocytes
- Pedicels of podocytes creating filtration slits
- Allows filtration of water and small solutes, preventing larger ones
Renal Tubule
- Filtered fluid passes through the renal tubule, consisting of:
- Proximal convoluted tubule (PCT)
- Loop of Henle
- Distal convoluted tubular (DCT)
- Distal convoluted tubules of many nephrons empty into a single collecting duct
Loop of Henle
- First part (descending limb) dips into renal medulla, then returns to renal cortex as ascending limb
- Descending limb is composed of simple squamous epithelium
- Ascending limb may be composed of simple squamous epithelium or simple cuboidal to low columnar cells
Nephron Classification
- Cortical Nephrons (80-85%):
- Located in the outer part of the cortex
- Short loop of Henle
- Have peritubular capillaries that arise from efferent arterioles
- Juxtamedullary Nephrons (15-20%):
- Lie deep in cortex closer to medulla
- Have long loops of Henle that extend into the deepest region of the medulla
- Receive blood supply from vasa recta, which arise from perturbed capillaries before becoming peritubular venules
Juxtaglomerular Apparatus (JGA)
- Final part of the ascending limb of the loop of Henle makes contact with afferent arteriole serving the renal corpuscle
- Columnar tubule cells in this region are crowded, known as macula densa
- Wall of the afferent arteriole contains juxtaglomerular (JG) cells, which help regulate blood pressure in the kidneys
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Description
Learn about the structure and function of the nephron, the basic functional unit of the kidney responsible for filtering blood and producing urine. Understand the components such as glomerulus, glomerular capsule, afferent and efferent arterioles, and their roles in the filtration process.
