Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Kidney Structure

Kidney Structure

The kidneys are two large bean-shaped organs located in the upper abdomen. They filter the blood several times a day to remove toxins and rebalance water and electrolytes of the circulatory system via the renal veins. The kidneys receive blood directly from the heart via the renal arteries. These arteries enter the kidney at the hilum, the concave surface of the bean, where they branch and divide into smaller vessels and capillaries.

Nephrons

Nephrons

The kidneys are intricate organs with millions of working units known as nephrons. Each nephron features two major structures: the renal corpuscle, which facilitates blood plasma filtration, and the renal tubule, which handles the glomerular filtrate. Blood supply is directly linked to the nephrons. The renal corpuscle consists of the glomerulus, a capillary network, and the Bowman's capsule, a double-walled epithelial structure that encases the glomerulus. The filtering of blood plasma happens...

Renal Corpuscle

Renal Corpuscle

The glomerulus and Bowman's capsule are two essential components of the nephron, which is the functional unit of the kidney. These microscopic structures play a critical role in the process of blood filtration to produce urine.
Glomerulus: Structure and Function
The glomerulus is a tiny, intricate network of capillaries located at the beginning of the nephron. It's enveloped by the Bowman's capsule and receives its blood supply from an afferent arteriole, which divides into numerous capillaries...

Filtration and Urine Formation

Filtration and Urine Formation

The function of the kidneys is to filter, reabsorb, secrete, and excrete. Every day the kidneys filter nearly 180 liters of blood, initially removing water and solutes but ultimately returning nearly all filtrates into circulation with the help of osmoregulatory hormones. This process removes wastes and toxins but is also crucial to maintain water and electrolyte levels. Most of these functions are performed by the tiny but numerous nephrons contained within the kidneys.

Formation of Dilute Urine

Formation of Dilute Urine

The formation of dilute urine is a critical renal adaptation that maintains fluid balance, particularly during periods of high fluid intake. This process primarily involves the juxtamedullary nephrons. By adjusting the permeability of water and ions in response to physiological conditions, the kidneys can either conserve or excrete water, resulting in concentrated or dilute urine.
Filtrate Osmolarity in the PCT
Initially, as the filtrate passes through the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT), its...

Physiology of the Genitourinary System II: Tubular Reabsorption and Secretion

Physiology of the Genitourinary System II: Tubular Reabsorption and Secretion

The kidneys maintain homeostasis through filtration, reabsorption, and secretion. Tubular reabsorption and secretion are crucial in forming urine and regulating electrolytes, water balance, and waste elimination.Tubular Reabsorption and Secretion ProcessesTubular reabsorption is the process that reclaims essential substances such as electrolytes, glucose, amino acids, and water from the glomerular filtrate back into the bloodstream. This is achieved through passive and active transport...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Age differences in the behavioural economics of cannabis use: Do adolescents and adults differ on demand for cannabis and discounting of future reward?

Drug and alcohol dependence·2022

Same author

Correction to: The CannTeen study: verbal episodic memory, spatial working memory, and response inhibition in adolescent and adult cannabis users and age‑matched controls.

Psychopharmacology·2022

Same author

The CannTeen study: verbal episodic memory, spatial working memory, and response inhibition in adolescent and adult cannabis users and age-matched controls.

Psychopharmacology·2022

Same author

Machine learning predictions of concentration-specific aggregate hazard scores of inorganic nanomaterials in embryonic zebrafish.

Nanotoxicology·2021

Same author

Electrochemical and morphological investigation of silver and zinc modified calcium phosphate bioceramic coatings on metallic implant materials.

Materials science & engineering. C, Materials for biological applications·2016

Same author

Alloplasmic male sterility in AD allotetraploid Gossypium hirsutum upon replacement of its resident A cytoplasm with that of D species G. harknessii.

TAG. Theoretical and applied genetics. Theoretische und angewandte Genetik·2013

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Estimation of Urinary Nanocrystals in Humans using Calcium Fluorophore Labeling and Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis

Estimation of Urinary Nanocrystals in Humans using Calcium Fluorophore Labeling and Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis

Published on: February 9, 2021

Reverse engineering the kidney: modelling calcium oxalate monohydrate crystallization in the nephron.

A Borissova¹, G E Goltz, J P Kavanagh

¹Institute of Particle Science and Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK. a.borissova@leeds.ac.uk

Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing

|April 29, 2010

Summary

This study models kidney stone (calcium oxalate monohydrate) formation in a nephron. It reveals critical supersaturation and crystal growth rates, simulating dehydration and dietary changes.

More Related Videos

Implementing Patch Clamp and Live Fluorescence Microscopy to Monitor Functional Properties of Freshly Isolated PKD Epithelium

Implementing Patch Clamp and Live Fluorescence Microscopy to Monitor Functional Properties of Freshly Isolated PKD Epithelium

Published on: September 1, 2015

Single-channel Analysis and Calcium Imaging in the Podocytes of the Freshly Isolated Glomeruli

Single-channel Analysis and Calcium Imaging in the Podocytes of the Freshly Isolated Glomeruli

Published on: June 27, 2015

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Estimation of Urinary Nanocrystals in Humans using Calcium Fluorophore Labeling and Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis

Estimation of Urinary Nanocrystals in Humans using Calcium Fluorophore Labeling and Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis

Published on: February 9, 2021

Implementing Patch Clamp and Live Fluorescence Microscopy to Monitor Functional Properties of Freshly Isolated PKD Epithelium

Implementing Patch Clamp and Live Fluorescence Microscopy to Monitor Functional Properties of Freshly Isolated PKD Epithelium

Published on: September 1, 2015

Single-channel Analysis and Calcium Imaging in the Podocytes of the Freshly Isolated Glomeruli

Single-channel Analysis and Calcium Imaging in the Podocytes of the Freshly Isolated Glomeruli

Published on: June 27, 2015

Area of Science:

Nephrology
Crystallization Science
Biophysics

Background:

Kidney stones, particularly calcium oxalate monohydrate, are a significant health concern.
Understanding the crystallization process within the kidney nephron is crucial for prevention and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

To simulate calcium oxalate monohydrate crystallization within a kidney nephron segment (distal convoluted tubule).
To model the influence of fluid dynamics, water removal, and input concentrations on stone formation.
To estimate key crystallization parameters like critical supersaturation and crystal growth rates.

Main Methods:

Adapted an industrial crystallization model to represent nephron fluid dynamics as a crystallizer/separator series.
Integrated crystallization kinetics and crystal size distribution into the model.
Simulated varying input calcium oxalate concentrations and water extraction rates.

Main Results:

Estimated critical supersaturation ratio for nucleation as 2.
Determined a mean crystal size of 1 micrometer.
Calculated a crystal growth order of 2.2, suggesting a surface integration mechanism.

Conclusions:

The model successfully predicts calcium oxalate concentration profiles, nucleation, and growth rates within the nephron.
It provides insights into how dietary loading and dehydration can promote kidney stone formation.
This simulation framework can be used to explore preventative strategies for kidney stones.