The Nephron

This introductory tutorial explains the nephron as the functional unit of the urinary system, covering the renal corpuscle, renal tubules, filtration, reabsorption, secretion, urine formation, and juxtaglomerular regulation.

Syllabus

. Introduction.
. Nephron foundations.
. Overview of nephron (parts).
. Key fluids. plasma, filtrate, tubular fluid, urine, extracellular fluid (ECF).
. Key physiological processes. filtration, reabsorption, secretion, excretion.
. Two types of nephrons: Cortical nephrons and Juxtaglomerular nephrons.
. Renal corpuscle.
. Glomerular (fenestrations) and mesangial cells.
. Glomerular basement membrane (GBM).
. Bowman's capsule and Bowman's space.
. Podocytes and filtration slits.
. Glomerular filtration apparatus.
. Vascular pole and urinary pole.
. Renal tubules.
. Proximal convoluted tubule (PCT).
. Loop of Henle.
. Countercurrent multiplier and Countercurrent exchanger (overview).
. Distal convoluted tubule (DCT).
. Collecting ducts (CD).
. Without ADH.
. With ADH.
. With Aldosterone and ADH.
. Juxtaglomerular apparatus.
. Juxtaglomerular cells.
. Macula densa cells.
. Mesangial cells.
. In-a-Nutshell.
. Acknowledgements.