Thursday 7 April 2016

2.71 describe the structure of a nephron, to include Bowman's capsule and glomerulus, convoluted tubules, loop of Henlé and collecting duct

Each of your two kidneys contains thousands of nephrons to help with osmoregulation and removal of urea (basically, they filter the blood). This is what they look like...
Kidney nephron showing Bowman's capsule, the glomerulus, blood capillaries, loop of Henle, convoluted tubules and collecting duct.

Inbetween the glomerulus and bowman capsule is a membrane that allows small molecules (such as water, glucose, urea and salts) to travel through, this is known as the filtrate and travels along through the orangey tube. As it travels, useful substances (such as glucose, some salt and a certain amount of water (depending on osmoregulation)) will be reabsorbed into the bloodstream (the red tube). All the unwanted stuff (like
urea, water and salt) is collected at the collecting duct. Here it all combines together to make urine which travels down the ureter, into the bladder where it is stored.

image credit: BBC

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