Question

Explain the structure of nephron.

[Review question: Pg. No: 245]

Answer 1

• Each kidney consists of more than one million nephrons. Nephrons or uriniferous tubules are structural and functional units of the kidneys.
• Each nephron consists of Renal corpuscle or Malphigian corpuscle and renal tubule.
• The renal corpuscle consists of a cup-shaped structure called Bowman’s capsule containing a bunch of capillaries called glomerulus.
• Blood enters the glomerular capillaries through afferent arterioles and leaves out through efferent arterioles.
• The Bowman’s capsule continues as the renal tubule which consists of three regions proximal convoluted tubule, U-shaped hair pin loop, the loop of Henle and the distal convoluted tubule.
• The distal convoluted tubule which opens into the collecting tubule. The nitrogenous wastes are drained into renal pelvis of kidney which leads to ureters and stored in the urinary bladder.
• Urine is expelled out through the urethra.