Structure of the Kidney and Nephron

During the vital activity of the human and animal body, significant amounts of organic degradation products are produced, a proportion of which is not being utilized by cells. These degradation products must be eliminated from the body. The end products of metabolism which have to be removed from the body are called excreta, and the organs that remove them are called excretory organs.

The lungs eliminate carbon-di-oxide and water vapour into the environment. The gastro-intestinal tract excretes a small amount of water, bile acids, pigments, cholesterol, certain drugs (when administered into the body) salts of heavy metals (Cadmium, iron, manganese) and indigestible food residues (faeces).

The skin performs its excretory function by sweat and sebaceous glands. Sweat glands excrete sweat which contains water, salts, urea, uric acid, creatinine and other compounds.

The main excretory organs are the kidneys, which eliminate in the urine most of the metabolites, primarily those containing nitrogen (Urea, Ammonia, Creatinine).

Structure of the Kidney

The kidney is a bean-shaped organ about 5 cms long, 3 cms wide and 2 cms thick. There are two kidneys which are situated at both sides of the lumbar area. The weight of a kidney is about 200-250 gms. On the inner or medial border there is a notch called the hilum at which region the artery, the vein and the ureter connect with the kidney.

Each kidney has a pelvis, where the urine collects. The urine is drained off from the pelvis by the ureters. The ureters end in the urinary bladder which can hold about 800 ml of urine. The urethra carries the urine from the bladder and voids it at convenient intervals.

In a longitudinal section, the kidney is seen to consist of outer cortex and inner medulla. The medulla consists of 10-18 conical or pyramidal shaped structures, known as the renal pyramids. The base of a renal pyramid faces towards, the cortex. The pelvis is the funnel-shaped upper end of the ureter.

Structure of the Nephron

The kidney substance is composed of about 1 million functional units, the nephrons, and a smaller number of collecting tubules. The uriniferous tubules are supported by a small amount of connective tissue, containing blood vessels, nerves and lymph vessels.

The nephron

The nephron consists of a tubule closed at one end, the other end opening into a collecting tubule. The closed or blind end is indented to form the cup-shaped glomerular capsule (Bowman's capsule) which almost completely encloses a network of arterial capillaries, the glomerulus. Continuing from the glomerular capsule the remainder of the nephron is described in three parts: the proximal convoluted tubule, the loop of Henle and the distal convoluted tubule, leading into a collecting tubule.

After entering the kidney at the hilus the renal artery divides into smaller arteries and arterioles. In the cortex an arteriole, the afferent arteriole, enters each glomerular capsule then subdivides into a cluster of capillaries, forming the glomerulus. The blood vessel leading away from the glomerulus is the efferent arteriole; it breaks up into a second capillary network to supply oxygen and nutritional materials to the remainder of the nephron. The blood pressure in the glomerulus is higher than in other capillaries because the calibre of the afferent arteriole is greater than that of the efferent arteriole.

Functions of the Kidney

Urine formation

Maintenance of fluid and electrolyte balance

Disposal of waste material from the body