Nephron

It is the smallest structural and functional unit of the kidney in humans and vertebrate animals that participates in urine formation. The nephron is composed of a corpuscle and tubular system. Each kidney has about 1.25 million nephrons, which participate in urine formation. Nephrons remove final metabolic waste products from the blood, such as urea, uric acid, and creatinine. They also eliminate excess sodium, potassium, and chloride ions, thus regulating the composition and volume of body fluids, as well as the balance of alkalis and acids. The formed urine is collected in the calyces, pelvis, passes through the ureter into the urinary bladder, and is excreted from the body through the urethra.

Source | Glossary of Most Commonly Used Biomedical Terms and Concepts | Lithuanian University of Health Sciences | Academician Professor Antanas Praškevičius, Professor Laima Ivanovienė