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nephron
(nef´ron)
the structural and functional unit of the kidney, a complex system of arterioles, capillaries, and tubules. A nephron consists of the renal corpuscle, the proximal convoluted tubule, the descending and ascending limbs of the loop of Henle, the distal convoluted tubule, and the collecting tubule. Each kidney is an aggregation of about a million nephrons. As the plasma makes its tortuous journey through the tubules,
most of its water and some of the solutes are reabsorbed into the blood via the peritubular capillaries. The water and solutes
remaining in the tubules become urine. The specific function of the nephron is to remove from the plasma certain end products of metabolism, such as urea, uric acid, and creatinine, and also any excess sodium, chloride, or potassium ions. By allowing for reabsorption of water and some electrolytes back into the blood, the nephron also plays a vital role in the maintenance of normal fluid balance in the body.
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