Nephron Functional Anatomy

1. Functional unit: nephron (about one million per kidney); nephron divided into

a. glomerular region (renal corpuscle) -- in the renal cortex 1) glomerulus (capillary tuft) 2) Bowman's capsule (blind end of the nephron) (note:  Bowman's capsule and the glomerulus together are named the Malpigian corpusle, but often refered to simply as the "glomerulus") b. proximal tubule; convoluted and straight segments -- in the renal cortex c. loop of Henle; begins in the cortex, dips into the medulla; returns to the cortex 1) descending limb 2) hairpin turn 3) ascending limb (thin and thick segments) d. distal tubule -- in the cortex (note:  the initial part of the distal tubule passes near the glomerulus of the nephron from which it arose e. collecting tubule/duct -- begins in the cortex, passes through the medulla, empties into the ureter