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renal tubule

anatomy
Also known as: kidney tubule

Quick Summary

The renal tubule is a crucial component of the nephron, the functional unit of the kidney. Each kidney contains about a million nephrons, each with a long tubule. These tubules begin as a cuplike structure called the renal corpuscular capsule, which encloses the glomerulus, a cluster of capillaries.

The tubule then extends into the proximal convoluted tubule, followed by the loop of Henle, and then the distal convoluted tubule. Finally, the distal tubule leads to a collecting tubule, which transports urine to the renal pelvis.

The primary functions of the renal tubule are to reabsorb essential substances like water and salts back into the bloodstream and to excrete waste products in the form of urine. The specific sections of the tubule have specialized roles in concentrating urine and regulating the body's water and electrolyte balance.123

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