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renal corpuscle
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Anatomical diagram of a kidney section showing the nephron structure, including the renal corpuscle, convoluted tubules, loop of Henle, collecting tubule, and associated blood vessels such as arterioles, capillaries, and veins. Labels identify key parts of the nephron and its vascular system within the renal cortex and medulla.
Quick Facts
Also called:
malpighian body
Key People:
Marcello Malpighi
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renal corpuscle

anatomy
Also known as: malpighian body
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Britannica Editors
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History

renal corpuscle, filtration unit of vertebrate nephrons, functional units of the kidney. It consists of a knot of capillaries (glomerulus) surrounded by a double-walled capsule (Bowman’s capsule) that opens into a tubule. Blood pressure forces plasma minus its macromolecules (e.g., proteins) from the glomerular capillaries into the Bowman’s capsule. This filtrate, called capsular urine, then passes into the tubule for further processing.