Question

What is the structural and functional unit of Kidney ?

Answer 1

• The structural and functional unit of kidney is nephron.
• Urine formation involves three main processes- Glomerular filtration, Tubular Reabsorption, and Tubular Secretion, which takes place in different parts of the nephron.

Glomerular filtration

• The blood containing waste like urea enters the glomerulus which filters the blood.
• Water, urea and other salts like glucose are filtered out in renal tubules.
• This filtered fluid is called glomerular fluid.

Tubular Reabsorption

• In the renal tubule of the nephron where the necessary materials are reabsorbed into the blood through blood capillaries and only the waste substances like urea and excess water remain behind in the tubule.

Tubular Secretion

• The nephron carries the urine into the collecting tubule of the kidney from where it is carried to the ureter.
• From the ureter, the urine is transported into the urinary bladder.
• The urinary bladder stores the urine until it comes out of the body, through an opening known as the urethra.