Nephron Structure
Higher Tier Only
- Each kidney contains around a million tiny structures called nephrons
- Nephrons start in the cortex of the kidney, loop down into the medulla and back up to the cortex
- Each nephron contains the following sections:
- Bowman's capsule
- Tubule
- Collecting duct
- Each nephron is associated with blood vessels as follows:
- A capillary knot sits within the Bowman's capsule
- This knot is also known as the glomerulus
- An arteriole carries blood into and away from the capillary knot
- A capillary network is located alongside each nephron
- A capillary knot sits within the Bowman's capsule
Nephron structure diagram
Kidneys contain many nephrons, each associated with a series of small blood vessels
Examiner Tip
In an exam you may be asked to label the capillary knot and its associated arterioles, Bowman's capsule, tubule, collecting duct and the capillary network
