Write a note on structure and function of kidney.

 Structure of Kidney

Colour of kidney:

                                   Kidney are dark red bean shaped organ.

Size of kidney: 

                             Each kidney is 10cm long, 5cm width thick and weights about 120 grams.

Location:

                   They are placed against the back wall of abdominal cavity just below diaphragm , one on either side of the vertebral column. They are protected by the last 2 ribs. The left kidney is little higher than the right.

Hilus: 

            The concave side of the kidney faces the vertebral column. There is a depression called Hilus, near the Centre of  the concave area of kidney. 

Kidney shows two regions

Renal cortex:

                          is the outer part of the kidney and it is dark red in colour.

Renal medulla:

                                is the inner part of the kidney and is pale red in colour. Renal medulla consists of several cone shaped areas called renal Pyramids. Renal pyramids projects into a funnel-shaped cavity called renal Pelvis which is the base of ureter.

Structure of kidney

Function of Kidney

The function unit of kidney is called nephron. There are over one millions nephrons in each kidney. 

Parts of Nephron:

                                    There are two parts of nephron i.e. Renal Corpuscle and Renal Tubule.

Renal corpuscle is not tubular and has two parts i.e. glomerulus and Bowman's capsule. Glomerulus is a network of capillaries while Bowman's capsule is a cap shaped structure that encloses glomerulus.

Renal Tubule:

                            It is the part of nephron which starts after Bowman's capsule. Its first portion is called the proximal convoluted tubule. Next portion is U-shaped and is called Loop of Henle. The last portion of renal tubule is called the Distal convoluted tubule. 

Collecting Duct:

                                 The distal convoluted tubule of many nephrons open in a single collecting duct. Many collecting ducts join together to form several hundred Papillary Ducts which drain into renal pelvis.

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