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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...

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Renal Cortex
The outermost region of the kidney is the...

Gastrulation

Gastrulation

Gastrulation establishes the three primary tissues of an embryo: the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. This developmental process relies on a series of intricate cellular movements, which in humans transforms a flat, “bilaminar disc” composed of two cell sheets into a three-tiered structure. In the resulting embryo, the endoderm serves as the bottom layer, and stacked directly above it is the intermediate mesoderm, and then the uppermost ectoderm. Respectively, these tissue strata will form...

External Anatomy of the Kidney

External Anatomy of the Kidney

The kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs in the human body that play a critical role in maintaining overall health. They filter out waste products from the blood, regulate blood pressure, maintain electrolyte balance, and stimulate the production of red blood cells.
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Kidney Structure

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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.

Blood and Nerve Supply to the Kidney

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Bloody Supply to the Kidneys:
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Isolation and Culture of Cells from the Nephrogenic Zone of the Embryonic Mouse Kidney

Isolation and Culture of Cells from the Nephrogenic Zone of the Embryonic Mouse Kidney

Published on: April 22, 2011

Patterning a complex organ: branching morphogenesis and nephron segmentation in kidney development.

Frank Costantini¹, Raphael Kopan

¹Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA. fdc3@columbia.edu

Developmental Cell

|May 25, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Kidney development involves two distinct pathways: the collecting system forms from branching tubes, and nephrons arise from mesenchymal cells. This review explores their embryology and genetic control, highlighting recent advances in kidney morphogenesis.

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Dissection and Culture of Mouse Embryonic Kidney

Dissection and Culture of Mouse Embryonic Kidney

Published on: May 17, 2017

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Last Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Isolation and Culture of Cells from the Nephrogenic Zone of the Embryonic Mouse Kidney

Isolation and Culture of Cells from the Nephrogenic Zone of the Embryonic Mouse Kidney

Published on: April 22, 2011

Dissection and Culture of Mouse Embryonic Kidney

Dissection and Culture of Mouse Embryonic Kidney

Published on: May 17, 2017

Area of Science:

Nephrology
Developmental Biology
Genetics

Background:

The kidney comprises two major structures: the collecting system and the nephron.
These components exhibit distinct embryological origins and developmental processes.
Together, they perform critical filtration and resorption functions.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the embryological origins of the kidney's collecting system and nephron.
To examine the genes controlling kidney morphogenesis, patterning, and differentiation.
To highlight recent advancements in understanding kidney development.

Main Methods:

This is a review article, synthesizing existing research.
Focuses on embryological studies and genetic analyses.
Incorporates recent findings on kidney development.

Main Results:

Collecting system development involves reiterated branching of epithelial tubes.
Nephron development originates from mesenchymal cell condensation into epithelial vesicles.
Genes play crucial roles in controlling the morphogenesis, patterning, and differentiation of both kidney components.

Conclusions:

Kidney development is a complex process involving distinct origins for the collecting system and nephron.
Understanding the genetic control of these processes is key to comprehending kidney formation.
Recent research offers new insights into the molecular mechanisms driving kidney morphogenesis.