Renal Tubule

The renal tubule is the minute, long tubular partion of a nephron that leads away from the glomerulus. This minute reabsorptive tube of basement membrane is lined with epithelium, and compose the substance of the kidney. The renal tubule contains and conducts the tubular fluid which has been filtered through the glomerulus. After passing through the renal tubule, the filtrate continues to the collecting duct system, which is not part of the nephron. The renal tubule is made up of the proximal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle, and distal convoluted tubule, which empties into a collecting tubule.

The function of the renal tubule is reabsorption and secretion of useful and toxic materials respectively. Although the whole length of the renal tubule is involved in reabsorption, the cells of different regions of the renal tubule are adapted to perform specific transport functions, and consequently, the absorptive capacities of the different regions of the renal tubule differ.

Renal Tubule