Question

Compare the functioning of alveoli in the lungs and nephrons in the kidneys with respect to their structure and functioning.

Answer 1

Alveoli:

1. They are present in the lungs and are the main respiratory structures.
2. They are the structural and functional units of the lungs.

Nephron:

1. It is present in the kidney helping in the excretion of urine.
2. They are the structural and functional units of the kidney.

Alveoli	Nephron
1) They are tiny air sac-like structures present at the end of bronchioles present inside the lungs.	1) They are tube-like structures present inside the kidney.
2) Made up of squamous epithelium.	2) Made up of cuboidal epithelium and contain structure glomerulus, bowman capsule, and long renal tube.
3) They are one cell thick and made up of an extensive network of blood capillaries.	3) They are surrounded by blood vessels as well as made up of blood vessels
4) Around 480 million alveoli are found in each lung.	4) Around1.5 a million nephrons are present in the kidney.
5) Alveoli are the site of gaseous exchange.	5) The nephron is the primary filtration unit of the kidney.
6) The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place between the blood of capillaries and the gases present in the alveoli.	6) The function of the nephron is ultrafiltration, selective reabsorption, and tubular secretion.
7) The partial pressure of oxygen inside the alveoli is 100 mm of Hg and that of carbon dioxide is 40 mm of Hg airflow from high partial pressure to low partial pressure.	7) Due to these functions of the nephron, our urine is acidic in nature as it contains hydrogen ions.
8) Due to this partial difference, the gaseous exchange takes place between blood capillaries and alveoli.	8) Blood enters the kidney and nitrogenous waste in form of urine is collected by the collecting duct.