2.2 Structure of the nephron

2.3 Structure of a kidney tubule (nephron)

Figure 5 Detailed structure of a kidney nephron. Each nephron is well surrounded with blood capillaries. The renal artery which supplies blood to the kidney branches off into arterioles and then further into blood capillaries. Mass of blood capillaries found within the Bowman’s capsule is known as the glomerulus. Capillaries that leave the kidney tubules unite to become venules which then join to form the renal vein.

Parts of a nephron

(i) Bowman’s capsule – where a collection of blood capillaries, glomerulus, is located. The Bowman’s capsule and the glomerulus is called the renal corpuscle or Malpighian corpuscle.

(ii) Proximal convoluted tubule – first short, coiled tubule that is located behind the Bowman’s capsule.

(iii) Loop of Henle – U-shaped portion.

(iv) Distal convoluted tubule- second short, coiled tubule that is located after the Loop of Henle.

(v) Collecting duct – passes through medulla and eventually opens into renal pelvis.

(vi) Blood capillaries – surround the nephron.

Figure 6 Position of juxtamedullary and cortical nephrons within the kidney tissues. Cortical nephron has a short Loop of Henle that does not extend deep into the medulla region of the kidney. For juxtamedullary nephron, the Loop of Henle is long and extends through the cortex and medulla region of the nephron.