What is the functional unit of the kidney?

What is the functional unit of the kidney?

• A. Nephron
• B. Glomerulus
• C. Ureter
• D. Renal Pelvis

Answer: (A)

Nephrons are the functional unit of the kidney. Each nephron carries out the entire process of urine formation: filtration of blood in the glomerulus, followed by selective reabsorption and secretion along the renal tubule, which together produce urine. The tubule components—the proximal tubule, loop of Henle, distal tubule, and collecting duct—handle reabsorbing water and essential solutes and secreting wastes, shaping the final urine. The glomerulus is the filtering component inside the nephron, but the nephron as a whole performs both filtration and tubular processing, so it’s considered the functional unit. The ureter and renal pelvis are part of the drainage system that transports urine to the bladder, not sites where urine is formed.

Nephrons are the functional unit of the kidney. Each nephron carries out the entire process of urine formation: filtration of blood in the glomerulus, followed by selective reabsorption and secretion along the renal tubule, which together produce urine. The tubule components—the proximal tubule, loop of Henle, distal tubule, and collecting duct—handle reabsorbing water and essential solutes and secreting wastes, shaping the final urine. The glomerulus is the filtering component inside the nephron, but the nephron as a whole performs both filtration and tubular processing, so it’s considered the functional unit. The ureter and renal pelvis are part of the drainage system that transports urine to the bladder, not sites where urine is formed.