regarding the kidney, discuss the structural components of the nephron and their function(s) discuss th components of...

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regarding the kidney, discuss the structural components of thenephron and their function(s)

discuss th components of the digestive system and their functionalsigificance. address microanatomy structures(specialized cells andtheir function)

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1 Nephron Each nephron is formed by two parts 1 A blind end called renal corpuscle or Malpighian corpuscle 2 A tubular portion called renal tubule RENALCORPUSCLE Renal corpuscle or Malpighian corpuscle is a spheroidal and slightly flattened structure with a diameter of about 200 Function of the renal corpuscle is the filtration of blood which forms the first phase of urine formation SITUATION OF RENAL CORPUSCLE AND TYPES OF NEPHRON Renal corpuscle is situated in the cortex of the kidney either near the periphery or near the medulla Classification of Nephrons Based on the situation of renal corpuscle the nephrons are classified into two types 1 Cortical nephrons or superficial nephrons Nephrons having the corpuscles in outer cortex of the kidney near the periphery In human kidneys 85 nephrons are cortical nephrons 2Juxtamedullary nephrons Nephrons having the corpuscles in inner cortex near medulla or corticomedullary junction STRUCTURE OF RENAL CORPUSCLE Renal corpuscle is formed by two portions 1 Glomerulus 2 Bowman capsule Glomerulus Glomerulus is a tuft of capillaries enclosed by Bowman capsule It consists of glomerular capillaries interposed between afferent arteriole on one end and efferent arteriole on the other end Thus the vascular system in the glomerulus is purely arterial Glomerular capillaries arise from the afferent arte riole After entering the Bowman capsule the afferent arteriole divides into 4 or 5 large capillaries Each large capillary subdivides into many small capillaries These small capillaries are arranged in irregular loops and form anastomosis All the smaller capillaries finally reunite to form the efferent arteriole which leaves the Bowman capsule Diameter of the efferent arteriole is less than that of afferent arteriole This difference in diameter has got functional significance Functional histology Glomerular capillaries are made up of single layer of endothelial cells which are attached to a basement membrane Endothelium has many pores called fenestrae or filtration pores Diameter of each pore is 01 Presence of the fenestra is the evidence of the filtration function of the glomerulus Bowman Capsule Bowman capsule is a capsular structure which enclo ses the glomerulus It is formed by two layers i Inner visceral layer ii Outer parietal layer Visceral layer covers the glomerular capillaries It is continued as the parietal layer at the visceral pole Parietal layer is continued with the wall of the tubular portion of nephron The cleftlike space between the visceral and parietal layers is continued as the lumen of the tubular portion Functional anatomy of Bowman capsule resembles a funnel with filter paper Diameter of Bowman capsule is 200 Functional histology Both the layers of Bowman capsule are composed of a single layer of flattened epithelial cells resting on a basement membrane Basement membrane of the visceral layer fuses with the basement membrane of glomerular capillaries on which the capillary endothelial cells are arranged Thus the basement membranes which are fused together form the separation between the glomerular capillary endothelium and the epithelium of visceral layer of Bowman capsule Epithelial cells of the visceral layer fuse with the basement membrane but the fusion is not complete Each cell is connected with basement membrane by cytoplasmic extensions of epithelial cells called pedicles or feet These pedicles are arranged in an interdigitating manner leaving small cleftlike spaces in between The See Answer

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