Nephron:

The structural and functional unit of kidney is called Nephron, from where blood gets filtered and urine is formed. Both kidneys contain about 2 million uriniferoustubule (Nephron).

Nephron is composed of following parts.

1. Bowmen’s capsule:

• Cup like structure, inner wall is lined by podocyte
• Contain blood capillaries called Glomerulus, formed of efferent and afferent arteriole.
• Helps in filtration of blood to form urine (Glomerular filtration)
• Bowmen’s capsule + Glomerulus: Malphigian body.

2. Proximal Convulated Tubule (PCT)

• Convoluted part arising from Bowmen’s capsule.
• Permeable to water and mineral
• Regulate the pH of filtrate.

3. Loop of henle

• U shaped structure in Renal Medulla.
• Contains narrow descending limb and wide ascending limp.
• Reabsorb water and sodium chloride from filtrate.
• Conserve water and thus produce hypotonic urine.

4. DCT ( Distal Convoluted Tubule)

• Convoluted part in renal cortex.
• Reabsorb minerals and regulate the pH of urine.

5. Collecting tubule

• Terminal long narrow tubes in kidney.
• Helps in transportation of urine and absorption of water.
• Open into duct of bellini and finally into Renal Pelvis through minor and mayor calyces.