CIE A Level Biology复习笔记14.1.4 Nephron Structure

• Each kidney contains thousands of tiny tubes, known as nephrons
• The nephron is the functional unit of the kidney – the nephrons are responsible for the formation of urine

The location and structure of a nephron

• There is also a network of blood vessels associated with each nephron:
  • Within the Bowman’s capsule of each nephron is a structure known as the glomerulus
  • Each glomerulus is supplied with blood by an afferent arteriole (which carries blood from the renal artery)
  • The capillaries of the glomerulus rejoin to form an efferent arteriole
  • Blood then flows from the efferent arteriole into a network of capillaries that run closely alongside the rest of the nephron
  • Blood from these capillaries eventually flows into the renal vein

The blood supply associated with a nephron