Question

Name and describe the functional unit of the kidney. Summarize the functions of each part.

Answer 1

Answer:

The structural and functional unit of the kidney is nephron. Each kidney consists of two parts a renal corpuscle which is the site for blood filtration and renal tubule in which filtrate enters and passes through.

Renal tubule is divided into PCT(proximal convoluted tubule), loop of Henle (nephron loop) and DCT(distal convoluted tubule).

Function of nephron  

1. Renal corpuscle: It is made up of two component glomerulus(tuft of capillaries) and bowman's capsule. Glomerulus is having pores in its membrane called fenestrae through which blood is filtered into the bowmen's capsule.

2. PCT: The function of PCT is mostly to reabsorb the materials from filtrate by active and passive transport. Absorption of glucose, amino acids, hormones, vitamins, and ions takes place in this segment.

3. Henle loop:  It contains ascending and descending loop. The descending loop is permeable to water and ascending loop is permeable to ions. So reabsorption of water and ions like sodium takes place in this region.

4. DCT: Here reabsorption of ions takes place and it is mostly impermeable to water and it opens into collecting duct.