User:Teaooty

ypes of nephrons

Two general classes of nephrons are cortical nephrons and juxtamedullary nephrons, both of which are classified according to the location of their associated renal corpuscle. Cortical nephrons have their renal corpuscle in the superficial renal cortex, while the renal corpuscles of juxtamedullary nephrons are located near the renal medulla. The nomenclature for cortical nephrons varies, with some sources distinguishing between superficial cortical nephrons and midcortical nephrons;[1] other sources simply call all non-juxtamedullary nephrons superficial nephrons.[2]

Functionally, cortical and juxtamedullary nephrons have distinct roles. Cortical nephrons (85% of all nephrons) mainly perform excretory and regulatory functions, while juxtamedullary nephrons (15% of nephrons) concentrate and dilute urine.[2]

[edit] Anatomy

Each nephron is composed of an initial filtering component (the "renal corpuscle") and a tubule specialized for reabsorption and secretion (the "renal tubule"). The renal corpuscle filters out large solutes from the blood, delivering water and small solutes to the renal tubule for modification.

[edit] Renal corpuscle