nephron
Blood-filtering tubule
A nephron is the basic functional unit of the kidney—a microscopic structure that filters blood and produces urine.
Each human kidney contains about a million nephrons, which remove waste products, regulate water and electrolyte balance, and return useful substances to the bloodstream.
The nephrons were damaged by prolonged dehydration.
structure
Capillary knot filtering blood
- tubuleMinute cylindrical duct
- afferent arterioleBlood vessel entering glomerulus
- basement membraneExtracellular matrix beneath epithelia
- microvilliMicroscopic membrane protrusions
pathology
Kidney tissue deterioration
- nephritisRenal tissue inflammation
- Fanconi syndromeTubular reabsorption defect
- Bartter syndromeGenetic renal tubular disorder
- IgA nephropathyRenal immunoglobulin deposition disorder
filtration
Liquid after straining
- GFRKidney filtration measurement
- oncotic pressureProtein-driven fluid retention
- selectivityTendency to choose carefully
- permeabilityAbility to transmit fluids
homeostasis
Maintaining internal solute balance
- electrolyte balanceProper mineral ion ratios
- pH balanceAcid-base measurement ratio
- blood pressure regulationMaintaining arterial force balance
glomerulus
Capillary knot filtering blood
- tubuleMinute cylindrical duct
- afferent arterioleBlood vessel entering glomerulus
- basement membraneExtracellular matrix beneath epithelia
nephropathy
Kidney tissue deterioration
- nephritisRenal tissue inflammation
- Fanconi syndromeTubular reabsorption defect
- Bartter syndromeGenetic renal tubular disorder
filtrate
Liquid after straining
- GFRKidney filtration measurement
- oncotic pressureProtein-driven fluid retention
- selectivityTendency to choose carefully
osmoregulation
Maintaining internal solute balance
- electrolyte balanceProper mineral ion ratios
- pH balanceAcid-base measurement ratio
- blood pressure regulationMaintaining arterial force balance
tubular reabsorption
Nephron recovery of filtered substances
- aquaporinsMembrane proteins transporting water
- body partsarm, leg, hand, back, chest
- anatomybrain, heart, bones, liver, stomach
- Urogenital Anatomybladder, kidney, kidneys, urethra, ureter
- biostructurescell membrane, cell wall, cytoskeleton, mitochondria, nucleus
- excretory systemkidney, kidneys, bladder, urinary bladder, urethra
- kidneyskidney, glomerulus, glomeruli, tubules, tubule