What is Nephron? A nephron is the basic structural and functional unit of the kidney. They are the microscopic structure composed of a renal corpuscle and a renal tubule. The word nephron is derived from the Greek word – nephros, meaning kidney.
There are two types of nephron: Cortical nephron; These are the nephrons present within the cortex. These are short and comprise about 80% of the total nephrons. Juxtamedullary nephron; These have long loops of Henle and extend into the medulla. These are about 20%.
How does a nephron filter blood? A nephron consists of a filter called glomerulus and a tubule. The glomerulus filters the fluid and waste products holding back the blood cells and large molecules, especially proteins.
There are about millions of nephrons in each human kidney. The mammalian nephron is a long tube-like structure, its length varying from 35–55 mm long.