Lesson 3:

Biology 5090
Topic: Structure of Nephron
Conducted by: Miss Numaira Urooj
 Structure of a nephron
The four main parts of a nephron are the
 bowman’s capsule
 Proximal (1st) convoluted tubule
 Loop of henle
 Distal (2nd) convoluted tubule
Several nephrons open into a tube called the
collecting duct.
Bowman’s capsule
Each nephron begins in the cortex as a
cup-like structure called the bowman’s
capsule.
Proximal (1st) convoluted tubule
The capsule leads into a short, convoluted
(coilled) tubule, which straightens out as
it passes into the medulla.
The convoluted part of the tubule is called
the proximal convoluted tubule.
Loop of Henle
In the medulla, the tubule extends into the
renal pyramid and makes a U-turn back
into the cortex.
The U-shape portion of the tubule is
known as the loop of henle.
Distal (2nd) convoluted tubule
When the tubule enters the cortex again, it
becomes convoluted again.
This part of the tubule is called the distal
(2nd) convoluted tubule.
Collecting duct
The tubule then opens into a collecting
duct that runs straight through the medulla
and eventually opens into the renal pelvis.
Exchange of constituents through
nephron
Nephrons are surrounded by blood
vessels that are connected to the renal
artery and renal vein.
Blood flow through nephron

1. Blood enters the kidney by the renal artery, which

branches out into arterioles
2. Each arteriole further branches into a mass of blood
capillaries in the bowman’s capsule. The mass of the
blood capillaries is called the glomerulus. The
bowman’s capsule with its glomerulus is called the
renal corpuscle or malpighian corpuscle.
3. Blood leaving the glomerulus enters blood
capillaries surrounding the nephron.
4. These blood capillaries then unite to form venules,
which in turn join to form a branch of the renal vein.
Test yourself
Q1: What do you understand by the terms
a. Excretion
b. Metabolism
c. Egestion
Q2: the diagram on the right shows a section of a
kidney
d. Name the parts labelled A-D
e. State the function of D
f. State two differences b/w the blood in B and C
 Urine formation
 Excess mineral salts and nitrogenous waste products
(for example urea, creatinine, and uric acid) are
harmful if they accumulate in the body. They are
removed from the body mainly in the form of urine.
 Urine formation takes place in the kidneys. Blood
leaving the kidneys usually has a lower concentration
of mineral salts and nitrogenous waste products than
blood entering the kidneys.
 Blood leaving the kidneys also contains less oxygen
and more carbon dioxide than blood entering the
kidneys.
How is the urine formed in the kidneys?
Two main processes are involved in the
formation of the urine within each
nephron.
 Ultrafiltration of small molecules from
the blood
 Selective reabsorption of useful
substances
Removal of small molecule from the
blood through Ultrafiltration
Blood flows from the branches of renal
artery into the glomeruli in the renal
corpuscles.
Most of the blood plasma is forced out of
the glomerular blood capillaries into the
bowman’s capsule. This process is called
Ultrafiltration because….
Continue…
Itis caused by high hydrostatic blood
pressure or high blood pressure. The
afferent arteriole that bring blood into the
glomerulus is wider (has a large diameter)
than the efferent arteriole that carries
blood away. This creates a high blood
pressure in the glomerulus. The hydrostatic
blood pressure provides the main force
required for the filtration process.
Continue…
The partially permeable membrane that
wraps around the glomerular blood
capillaries is like a very fine filter. It is
called the basement membrane. The
basement membrane has very small pores
(not visible) that allow only water and
very small molecules to pass through.
Continue…
The high blood pressure in the
glomerulus forces water and small
molecules (e.g glucose, amino acids,
mineral salts and nitrogenous waste
products) out of the glomerulus into the
bowman’s capsule, forming the filtrate.
Blood cells, platelets, and large molecules
such as proteins and fats, are retained in
the glomerular capillaries.