nephron is not only the main structure but also the functional unit of the kidney.It was here that are the most important stages of the formation of urine.Therefore, information about the structure of the nephron looks like and what functions it performs, will be very interesting.In addition, features of functioning nephrons may clarify the nuances of the renal system
structure of the nephron: renal corpuscle
interesting that in the mature kidney healthy person is between 1 and 1.3 billion nephrons.Nephron - a functional and structural unit of the kidney, which consists of a renal corpuscle and the so-called loop of Henle.
itself consists of a renal corpuscle Malpighian glomerulus and Bowman's capsule - Shymlanskaya.For a start it is worth noting that a ball is actually a collection of small capillaries.Blood gets here through prinosnuyu artery - are filtered plasma.Balance blood derived efferent arterioles.
Bowman's capsule - Shymlanskaya consists of two sheets - domestic and foreign.And if the outer sheet is a common fabric of the squamous epithelium, the structure of the inner sheet deserves more attention.The interior of the capsule is covered by podocytes - are cells that act as an additional filter.They miss glucose, amino acids and other substances, but hinder the movement of large protein molecules.Thus, in the renal corpuscle formed primary urine, which is different from the plasma only by the absence of large molecules.
nephron: the structure of the proximal tubule and loop of Henle
proximal tubule is the education that connects the renal corpuscle and Henle's loop.Inside tubule has villi that increase the total area of the internal lumen, thereby increasing the re-absorption performance.
proximal tubule smoothly into the descending part of the loop of Henle, which is characterized by small diameter.The loop is lowered into the medulla where bends around its own axis by 180 degrees and rising upwards - here starts ascending part of Henle's loop, which has a much larger and, accordingly, the diameter.Rising loop rises to about the level of the glomerulus.
structure of the nephron: distal tubules
Rising of the loop of Henle in the cortex goes into the so-called distal convoluted tubule.He comes into contact with a ball and in contact with the external prinosnoy and arterioles.There is carried out the final absorption of nutrients.The distal tubule passes in the final section of the nephron, which in turn flows into the collecting pipe carrying the fluid into the renal pelvis.
Classification nephrons
Depending on the location is divided into three main types of nephrons:
- cortical nephrons make up about 85% of the total of all structural units in the kidney.As a rule, they are located in the outer bark of the kidney, which is, in fact, as evidenced by their name.The structure of the nephron this type is slightly different - here a small loop of Henle;
- juxtamedullary nephrons - such structures are located right between the brain and the cortical layer, have long loops of Henle that penetrate deep into the medulla, sometimes even reaching the pyramids;
- subcapsular nephrons - the structures that are located directly under the capsule.
can be seen that the structure of the nephron is fully consistent with its functions.
