Biology [[Control, Coordination and Homeostasis]] The Structure iof the Kidney

[[Structure of the Kidney]]

Kidneys recieves blood from a renal artery and returns it via a renal vein. Urine is carried from the kidney to the bladder via the ureter. From the bnladder, the uretha carries it to the outside of the body.

The kidney has three main areas.
* The whole kidney is covered by the capsule.
* Underneath the capsule lies the cortex
* The central area is called the medulla
* The area where the ureter joins is called the pelvis

Kidneys are made up of tiny tubes called nephrons
One end of the nephron is cup shaped, and is called a Bowmans capsule (or renal capsule) and these are located in the cortex of the kidney.
The tube then runs towards the center of the kidney, forming a twisted region called the proximal convoluted tuble. Then it runs in a long, hair pin loop called the loop of henle.
The tube runs back up into the cortx where it forms another twisted region called the distal convoluted tube
The tube joins a collecting duct, which leads down through the medulla and into the pelvis of the kidney, where it joins with the ureter.

Each renal capsule is supplied with blood by a branch of the renal artery - 'afferent arteriole' which splits into a glomerulus. These rejoin to form an 'efferent arteriole' and then links back of with other capillaries to go to the renal vein.