The role of the kidney

Each kidney contains over one million microscopic filtering units called nephrons. Each nephron is
made of a tubule and is responsible for cleaning the blood by removing urea and excess water and
mineral ions.

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How the kidney works

This process takes place in stages:

Stage 1: Filtration
As blood passes through the capillary at the start of the nephron, small molecules are filtered out and
pass into the nephron tubule. These small molecules include glucose, urea, ions and water. However,
large molecules, such as blood proteins, are too big to fit through the capillary wall and remain in the
blood.

Stage 2: Selective reabsorption

Having filtered out small molecules from the blood - many of which are essential to the body - the
kidneys must reabsorb the molecules which are needed, while allowing those molecules which are not
needed to pass out in the urine. Therefore, the kidneys selectively reabsorb only those molecules which
the body needs back in the bloodstream.
The reabsorbed molecules include:
all of the glucose which was originally filtered out
as much water as the body needs to maintain a constant water level in the blood plasma
as many ions as the body needs to maintain a constant balance of water and mineral ions in the
blood plasma
The reabsorption of water takes place by osmosis. The reabsorption of glucose and mineral ions - from
the nephron to the blood capillary - takes place by active transport.
The cells which make up the wall of the nephron are adapted by having a folded membrane (providing
a large surface area) and a large number of mitochondria (to supply the energy for active transport).

Stage 3: The formation of urine

The molecules which are not selectively reabsorbed (the urea and excess water and ions) continue
along the nephron tubule as urine . This eventually passes down to the bladder.
In carrying out these processes, the kidney is able to fulfil its functions of regulating the water and ion
balance of the blood plasma, as well as keeping the level of urea low.
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The main function of the kidney is to filter fluid from the blood and concentrate the solution of waste
materials which is passed out as urine. It can also control the levels of electrolytes and water that is lost
in the urine or retained in the body thereby influencing blood volume and blood pressure. This ensures
that the body is able to maintain a state of balance that is optimum for sustaining life (homeostasis).
The kidney broadly has three main regions, an outer lying cortex, middle region known as the medulla
and inner pelvis. The renal cortex and medulla is where the main processes of urine production occurs.
The urine then accumulates in the renal pelvis and is directed towards the ureter, a narrow tube that
carries urine from the kidney to the urinary bladder.

What is the nephron?

The nephron is the main functional unit of the kidney which is responsible for filtering the blood and
concentrating the solution to produce urine. In the process, macronutrients, electrolytes and the
required amount of water are retained while waste substances, excess electrolytes, micronutrients and
toxins are expelled. There are some 1 million nephrons in each kidney but this number gradually
decreases with age or more rapidly with certain diseases. Broadly the nephron has two main parts the
glomerulus and tubule.
What is the glomerulus?
The glomerulus is the first part of the nephron where fluid is filtered from the blood. It has two parts,
namely the network of capillaries that transport the blood to the site (glomerular capillaries) and the
enlarged head of the nephron which collects the filtered fluid (Bowmans capsule). This part of the
nephron lies in the renal cortex. It is lined by thin epithelial cells which allow for fluid and other
substances in the blood to easily pass into the nephron.

Glomerulus Picture from Wikimedia Commons

The glomerular capillaries have a thin endothelial wall which is closely associated with the visceral
epithelium separated by a basement membrane. This is in contact with the parietal epithelium of the
Bowmans capsule. This arrangement allows the capillaries and Bowmans capsule to be in close
contact with only minimal cell layers in the path of the fluid leaving the capillaries and entering the
capsule.

What is the tubule?

The tubule is the long narrow tube where the filtered fluid from the Bowmans capsule is processed and
converted into urine. The tubule itself has several segments include :
Proximal tubule
Loop of Henle descending and ascending parts
Distal tubule
Connecting tubule
Collecting tubule cortical and medullary portions
The proximal, distal and connecting tubules are located within the renal cortex, while the loop of Henle
is within the medulla. The first part of the collecting tubule (cortical collecting tubule) is within the
renal cortex while the latter part (medullary collecting tubule) is within the renal medulla.
Diagram of the Nephron, Glomerulus and Different Parts of the Tubule
The tubules are lined with a thin layer of epithelial cells. The thinner segments of the tubules like the
descending limb and first part of the ascending limb of the loop of Henle has cells with minimal
organelles. The other segments have thicker cells with a brush border and are rich in mitochondria to
facilitate active and passive mechanisms of tubular reabsorption and tubular secretion.

Formation of Urine through the Nephron

Different parts of the nephron are responsible for its various functions. Fluid filtered from the blood
enters the Bowmans capsule then flows into the proximal tubule, down the descending limb of the
loop of Henle, then up the ascending lip, into the distal tubule and then the connecting and finally the
collecting tubule.
There are three stages to urine formation :
Glomerular filtration
Tubular reabsorption
Tubular secretion

Glomerular Filtration
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This occurs when fluid from the glomerular capillaries pass into the Bowmans capsule. This is fairly
non-selective meaning that almost all of the substances in the the blood except cells and plasma
proteins as well as the substances bound to these proteins enter the nephron.

Tubular Reabsorption
During this phase, all parts of the tubule act to return essential substances out of the nephron so that it
is not lost in the urine. It is a highly selective process in that the tubules carefully choose what will be
returned to the body and what will be passed out with the urine. This transfer of substances is known as
tubular reabsorption and may involve both active and passive mechanisms.
Some of the substances pass through the space between the epithelial cells while others through the
cells itself. In this way, the substances are returned back to the body either by being dumped into the
tissue of the kidney outside of the nephron or returned directly into the bloodstream.
Tubular Secretion
Just as substances that enter through the glomerulus are removed from the nephron and returned to the
body, many substances are drawn from the body and dumped into the tubules. Acids, alkalines,
certain ions, toxins and drugs are secreted into the tubules and this process is known as tubular
secretion. In this manner it can be rapidly passed out with the urine independent of glomerular filtration
and in a more selective manner.

Functions of the Nephron

The basic function of the nephron is to filter blood and remove waste substances while retaining
essential substances for various biochemical processes. In the process, the nephron can also influence
the pH (acid-base balance) of the blood, regulate blood pressure, maintain the blood volume and
control the level of electrolytes in the body fluids.
The functions of the nephron can be discussed with regards to each part :
Bowmans capsule
Collects the incoming fluid from the glomerular capillaries.
Proximal tubule
Sodium, chloride, water, glucose and amino acids are reabsorbed (removed from the
tubules).
Organic acids and bases like bile salts, oxalate and urate are secreted into the proximal
tubule.
Loop of Henle
Water is reabsorbed mainly in the descending limb and thin segment of the ascending
limb.
Sodium, calcium, chloride, magnesium and potassium are actively reabsorbed in the
thick segment of the ascending limb.
Distal tubule
Controls the blood flow through the glomerular capillaries and glomerular filtration of
the nephron to which it belongs.
Sodium, potassium and chloride reabsorption.
Collecting tubule
Sodium, potassium and chloride reabsorption.
Hydrogen ion secretion.
http://www.healthhype.com/nephron-glomerulus-and-tubule-structure-diagram-functions.html