Kidney anatomy and nephron function of the renal system lecture. Learning the anatomy of the kidney is essential when trying to under how disease processes affect the renal system.\rbr\rbrThe kidney is a vital organ that filters our blood. Various parts of the nephron are found within the renal cortex and renal medulla. The proximal convoluted tubule, distal convoluted tubule, and parts of the collecting ducts are found in the renal cortex. While the Loop of Henle is found completely in the renal medulla which (as you will see in the nephron physiology lecture) this plays an important role for how the urine becomes concentrated in the Loop on Henle.\rbr\rbrThe nephron is the functional part of the kidney that creates urine. Each kidney contains millions of nephrons that filters the blood to produce a substance called filtrate. The filtrate flows through the renal tubules of the nephron is reabsorbed and secreted back into the bloodstream (reabsorption) or out of the bloodstream into the filtrate (secretion).\rbr\rbrFiltrate is created by the renal corpuscle which includes the glomerulus and Bowmans capsule. The glomerulus is supplied with blood from the afferent arteriole. Once the blood is filtered it leaves the glomerulus through the efferent arteriole which then turned into peritubuluar capillaries.\rbr\rbrThe filtrate then enters into the renal tubule where reabsorption and secretion occur in the various sections of tubules. Therefore, the filtrate flows from Bowmans capsule to Proximal Convoluted Tubule, Loop of Henle, Distal Convoluted Tubule, to the collecting ducts and then leaves the kidney as urine by flowing out of the nephron through the renal papilla to the minor and major calyx to the renal pelvis, ureters, bladder, and out via the urethra. \rbr\rbrOther important structures of the kidney include: renal artery and vein which supply the kidney with blood and remove filtered blood from the kidney, renal pyramid (found in the renal medulla and contain parts of the nephron), renal columns (contains blood network of vessels), minor and major calyx etc.\rbr\rbrQuiz on Kidney and Nephron Anatomy: \rbr\rbr\rbrNotes: \rbr\rbrNephron Function: \rbr\rbrSubscribe: \rbr\rbrNursing School Supplies: \rbr\rbrVisit our website RegisteredNurseRN.