Dialysis Technician Practice Exam

A nephron is primarily made up of which components?

1. Arteries and veins

2. Glomerulus and Tubule

3. Nephrons and Bowman's capsule

4. Podocytes and Capillaries

The correct answer is: Glomerulus and Tubule

The nephron is the functional unit of the kidney, and it consists of two primary components: the glomerulus and the tubule. The glomerulus is a network of tiny blood vessels (capillaries) where blood filtration begins. It plays a crucial role in filtering blood and forming urine. The tubule, which includes various sections such as the proximal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle, distal convoluted tubule, and collecting duct, is responsible for the reabsorption of water, ions, and nutrients, as well as the secretion of waste products. The combination of the glomerulus and tubule is essential for the kidney's function of filtering blood, regulating electrolytes, and maintaining homeostasis in the body. Understanding these components helps clarify how the kidney effectively processes blood and contributes to waste removal in the form of urine. Other answer choices do not accurately represent the main structural components of a nephron, as they either include components not specifically part of the nephron itself or misrepresent the relationship between these structures.