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Describe The Functional Components Of The Renal Corpuscle Di

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The functional unit of the kidney is the nephron. It consists of a renal corpuscle where fluid can be filtered and a renal tubule where the filtered fluid flows through. Nephrons perform three basic functions, Glomerular filtration, tubular reabsorption, and tubular secretion. Glomerular filtration occurs as pressure (glomerular blood hydrostatic pressure) forces water and dissolved blood components through the endothelial pores of the capillaries, basement membrane, and on through the filtration slits of the adjoining visceral wall of the glomerular capsule. The resulting fluid is called the filtrate. Most substances in blood plasma are filtered by the renal corpuscle. However, blood cells and most proteins are not filtered. Filtration of …show more content…

It retains substances needed by the body, including water, glucose, amino acids, and ions, such as sodium potassium, calcium, chloride, bicarbonate, and phostphate. Reabsorption of Na+ is especially important because more of them pass the glomerular filter than any other substance except water. Sodium ions are reabsorbed in each portion of the renal tubule by several transport systems. Active transport of Na+ promotes reabsorption of water by osmosis. The loss of water from the filtrate creates a concentration gradient for some substances, such as K+, Cl-, HC03-, and urea, that promotes their reabsorption by passive diffusion. The loop of henle reabsorbs about 30% of the filtered K+, 20% filtered Na+, 35% of filtered Cl-, and 15% of the filtered water. Here reabsorption of water by osmosis is not automatically coupled to reabsorption of filtered solutes. Thus, there can only be independent regulation of both your total body water and the osmotic pressure of body fluids. Two hormones, Aldosterone, and Antidiuretic Hormone or ADH, regulate reabsorption in the final portion of the distal convoluted tubule and collecting ducts. About 90% of the reabsorbed water occurs with the reabsorption of solutes such as sodium and glucose, the rest is regulated by ADH. Whereas tubular reabsorption returns substances from the filtrate to the blood, tubular secretion removed materials that are not needed by the body from the blood and adds them to the filtrate. Secreted substances include potassium, hydrogen, and ammonium ions, as well as certain drugs and wastes. Tubular secretion has two principle effects, rids the body of certain materials, and helps to control blood pH by secreting H+ ions and increasing or decreasing HC03-

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