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()Map THE NEPHRON (Map)



Glomerulus

Histology section of a normal renal corpuscle (© RVC 2008)
Histology section of a normal renal corpuscle (© RVC 2008)
Histology section of a normal renal corpuscle showing the layers of the bowmans capsule (© RVC 2008)
  • Made up of many parallel capillaries
  • These capillaries do not connect to venules as with other capillaries
  • Blood flows into these capillaries through a wide afferent arteriole and leaves through a narrower efferent arteriole
  • The flow from the efferant arteriole enters the peritubular capillaries surrounding the Proximal Tubule
  • This change in diameter maintains a high filtration pressure which is essential for filtration
  • Also the blood entering the afferent arteriole is at very high pressure already as it from the renal artery
  • The pressure actually forces molecules through the glomerular filtration barrier which is responsible for selectively filtering the blood forming the glomerular filtrate.
  • As well as the the cells in the blood vessels the other component of the glomerulus are the mesangial cells:
    • These give support to the glomerulus
    • Maintain glomerular basal lamina

Bowmans Capsule

  • Surrounds the capillaries of the glomerulus
  • Has two layers
    • Inner visceral layer - Podocytes
    • Outer parietal layer
  • It is here where the filtrate is collected before entering the proximal tubule