HB-073 · Urinary · Part
Nephron
Also called: kidney filter unit Nephron
Schematic 3D Classes 9-10 · Classes 11-12 Intermediate Draft - educator review
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Parts: glomerulus; Bowman's capsule; proximal tubule; loop of Henle; distal tubule; collecting duct
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About
The nephron is the kidney's filtering unit: blood is filtered at the glomerulus and the fluid is adjusted along the tubule.
- 📍 Where it is
- Cortex and medulla of the kidney.
- 🧱 Structure
- Glomerulus inside Bowman's capsule, proximal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle, distal convoluted tubule and collecting duct, wrapped by capillaries.
- ⚙️ What it does
- Filtration, reabsorption of useful substances, secretion of wastes and concentrating urine.
💡 Key facts
- The glomerulus is a ball of capillaries.
- Most water and all glucose are normally reabsorbed.
- The loop of Henle helps concentrate urine.
✗ The kidney just strains out wastes
✓ It filters a lot, then reabsorbs most of it back.
📒 Words to know
- glomerulus
- capillary knot that filters blood
- reabsorption
- taking back useful substances
- filtrate
- fluid filtered from blood
🏫 Related lessons
- Animals: life processes and reproduction Classes 6-8
- Life processes Classes 9-10
Generic GayaGnan topic lessons. Check your own board's syllabus for the exact chapter.
🔎 Sources and credits
Catalog description: Functional microscopic unit of kidney.
- OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, ch. 25 (urinary system) (accessed 2026-10-30)
- 3D models: BodyParts3D (DBCLS) and the Human Reference Atlas (HuBMAP), CC BY 4.0, with GayaGnan schematics. 3D model credits
For learning only. This site does not give medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and it does not collect any health data.