The structure of the nephron - the building block and agent of the kidney - affects how the urinary organ generally works. The kidney consists of nephrons, connective tissue and blood vessels. The nephrons themselves include several parts, each of which is involved in the purification of blood and the formation of urine. Every hour, more than 2 million structural units pass about 70 liters of blood through themselves, sifting out harmful substances from it and returning useful ones.
general information
The kidney consists of 3 layers: cortex, outer and inner medulla. A network of small and large vessels passes through its tissues. Through this network, 20% of the body's total blood is pumped per minute.
Each nephron in the kidney participates in this process, providing its own filtering system for the incoming blood.
The largest number of nephrons is located in the inner part of the renal cortex. In total, each kidney has about 1 million working units, a third of them work simultaneously.
Nephrons of different types are located in different parts of the organ, so they differ slightly in their additional functions and structural features. If there are disturbances in the functioning of the kidney or its blood supply, or if nephrons of one type are damaged, the main work can be taken over by elements of another type.
As we age, nephrons die, so older people often suffer from edema and hypertension, even if they have healthier cardiovascular systems. Taking medications and their combinations increases the load on the nephrons.
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Categories: Excretory system Urology Nephrology
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Questions for this article:
What are the urinary organs?
How is urine formed in the kidneys?
How is urine output regulated?
Types and functions of nephrons
Location in the cortex, outer medulla, or inner medulla influences what function the nephron performs.
These structural units are of three types:
- superficial, or superficial, which are located closer to the upper edge of the renal cortex,
- located in the inner part of the cortex, or intracortical,
- located in the cortex, but close to the medulla - juxtamedullary.
Sometimes they are divided into the same types based on length, which is also responsible for functional features.
The largest number of nephrons is located in the inner part of the renal cortex. In total, each kidney has about 1 million working units, a third of them work simultaneously.
Super official
Cortical, or cortical types of nephrons are divided into superficial and intracortical. They make up the majority of nephrons. Their structure is distinguished by a short loop of Henle. The prefix “super” indicates proximity to the outer, upper part.
Intracortical
Both superficial and intracortical nephrons are located in the outer renal structure, the cortex. The prefix “super” means “on top”, and “intra” means “inside”. Both of these types are similar in structure and differ from the next one.
Juxtamedullary
In the juxtamedullary glomeruli, the exit vessels are wider than the entry vessels. Due to this, they form the juxtamedullary, a shorter method of blood circulation in the kidneys. They have the function of not only filtration, but also drainage.
Their proximal tubule and loop of Henle extend deeper into the medulla, that is, into the medulla of the kidney. Due to this, the juxtamedullary type is sensitive to processes of salt concentration (osmolality) in the medulla.
Juxta means "near" in Latin, so the name refers to the proximity to the inner medulla.
Although these nephrons make up about 20% of the total number, they are often depicted on diagrams due to the length of the loop.
How does a nephron work?
Parts of the nephron are responsible for several stages of filtration and formation of urine:
- After primary filtration in the glomerulus, the liquid enters the capsule.
- There are still useful substances in it. They are reabsorbed (reabsorbed) through the wall of the tubule into the blood.
- Then the substances are secreted (removed from the cells) in the wall of the canal itself, entering partly into the bloodstream and partly into the canal. The tubule passes secreted substances from the blood into the nephron.
The anatomy of the nephron includes a glomerulus of capillaries, a capsule where the initial urine enters after sifting out the proteins, two tubules with “windows” in which urine is formed in its final composition (secondary urine). The tubules are connected to each other by the loop of Henle, and by the connecting canal to the collecting duct.
Malhypian corpuscle of the kidney
The nephron begins with the renal glomerulus, which is saturated with capillaries and “connected” to the arteriole, which is responsible for blood circulation in the kidney. The glomerulus is also called the glomerulus.
After initial filtration by the glomerulus, the primary urine is received and filtered by the nephron capsule. The round and wide part of the nephron, where the glomerulus and capsule are located, is called the Malpighian corpuscle of the kidney.
In the nephron capsule of the kidneys, primary filtered urine accumulates, which so far differs little from blood plasma in composition.
The state of the glomerulus and capsule is determined by analyzing the glomerular filtration rate. The state of the glomerular filtering capacity is indicated by an increased level of creatinine in a blood test. This is due to the fact that creatinine is normally actively filtered.
These two analyzes indicate the condition of the kidneys and their building units.
Proximal tubule
Primary urine is a liquid purified from proteins, which from the capsule enters the proximal, that is, descending tubule. This liquid contains a lot of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, glucose, phosphates, sulfates and other substances beneficial to the blood. These elements should almost completely return to the blood through the windows of the tubules. The walls of the tubule are responsible for transporting and retaining toxic substances.
Loop of Henle
The loop of Henle is where the descending renal tubule meets the ascending tubule. Where it is adjacent to the descending part, water is excreted more intensively and osmolality increases (that is, the saturation of the remaining liquid with the necessary substances). In the ascending part, salts continue to be absorbed into the blood.
The loop of Henle is compared to a hairpin due to its shape.
Distal tubule
In the distal (ascending) tubule, the process of reabsorption of substances needed by the blood continues. If the proximal section has been damaged and reabsorption in it is impaired, then the distal tubule takes over its job of returning substances to the blood.
The sections of a healthy tubule function accurately: it accurately recognizes all substances necessary for the blood and ensures their return to the blood.
Connecting tubule
The connecting section belongs to the collecting duct. It connects it to the distal tubule.
collecting duct
The renal collecting system is not always classified as a nephron and is sometimes excluded from its scheme. The collecting ducts “exit” into the cortex and medulla of the kidney. They remove water, but almost no sodium and other substances that require reabsorption.
The collecting duct is sensitive to the hormone vasopressin (ADH), which itself depends on the amount of water in the tissues.
The hormone vasopressin is responsible for fluid exchange in the body.
If there is excess fluid, then there is no vasopressin in the bloodstream. In this case, the tube stops removing water and sucks in sodium. If dehydration occurs in the body, then a state of increased blood osmolality occurs, that is, the blood is saturated with salts. In this case, there is a lot of ADH, and the tube “receives the command” to concentrate salts in the urine.
Thus, a change in the osmoregulatory function, which is detected by sediment in the urine, indicates the condition of the kidneys and the body, and affects the diagnosis.
Blood supply
90% of renal blood flow occurs in the renal cortex, and in general the kidney is supplied with blood 100 times more intensely than the muscle at rest.
The organ has two different circles of blood circulation: the large cortical and the small pericerebral.
The kidney and nephron respond to the blood supply. With anemia, ischemia, and vascular sclerosis, functions decrease. With long-term kidney diseases, the capillaries in the glomeruli and other living parts of the organ are replaced by fibrous tissue and lose all functions.
PSYCHOSOMATICS
In this space, we have often touched on topics related to biological changes in the renal collecting duct. Changes in these small, tiny tubes have big consequences - they cause not only their own symptoms, but also affect the strength and severity of all other diseases. Let's look at this in more detail.
First, some information for a general understanding of the process (you can skip it):
There are three types of tissue present in the kidneys: ectodermal, new mesodermal, and endodermal. The collecting ducts of the kidneys are among the latter.
The importance of kidneys in the body is enormous. Their main tasks are to filter blood plasma, form urine, remove it from the body, and regulate the water level in the body. This is a powerful filter that cleanses the blood of harmful substances and an equally powerful water level regulator.
The main functional unit of the kidney is the nephron, which consists of the glomeruli, convoluted tubules, arch of Henle and renal collecting ducts. Here, blood plasma is filtered and primary urine is formed, most of which is absorbed back into the blood. Concentrated urine remains, which enters the renal pelvis and is excreted through the ureters into the bladder.
What is the function of the renal collecting duct (RCT) itself in this process? This is the last resort before urine is removed. The renal glomeruli filter the blood, squeeze the plasma under pressure, remove waste from it, forming primary urine with useful substances. It enters the convoluted tubules, the loop of Henle, and from there into the collecting ducts. In each of these small organs, the reabsorption of useful substances and water into the blood occurs (each section has its own). The kidney, like a super-smart computer, knows exactly which substances in primary urine the body needs back and which ones harm it, how much water to remove and how much to leave. And each section has its own filtration and its own reverse absorption (suction). So: STP is the last point before the excretion of concentrated urine; they also promote the reabsorption of water and a number of useful substances into the blood, and the final urine with the remaining breakdown products (in particular, urea, creatinine) is sent to the pelvis and ureter. The antidiuretic hormone works in the STP, which determines how concentrated the urine should be (= diluted with water), that is, how much water to remove, how much to ultimately retain.
That's all from the introductory part. If anyone is interested in learning more about the structure and functions of the kidneys, I recommend two videos: The first is 3 minutes:
The second one is longer:
And I move on to the psychosomatic essence of the issue
What biological conflicts will underlie changes in STP?
The renal collecting ducts (RCTs) are glandular tissue derived from the endodermal germ layer, which means they will respond to changes in the brainstem - the most evolutionarily ancient part of it - and the changes will be based on a “piece” conflict.
What will be that coveted “piece”? The word “piece” will mean the WATER necessary for life, the retention of which is controlled by STP at the last stage of reabsorption (reverse absorption).
This conflict can be divided into 3 types of experiences:
1. Life threat conflict = existential conflict: “I am in a dangerous situation”, “I have lost everything”, “I am afraid for my life”, “I have no prospects and confidence that I will survive”, “I do not feel safe.” safety”, “I am afraid of diagnosis, surgery, treatment, hospital, the unknown……..”
2. Refugee conflict: “I’m like a fish thrown ashore,” “I’ve lost my home, my homeland, my connection with family and friends,” “I feel like a stranger here.”
3. Abandonment conflict: “I feel abandoned, lonely, abandoned”, “I feel useless”, “I don’t have enough support”, “I need help, but no one needs me”, “I don’t feel cared for”...
It is important to understand that we are not talking about a real threat to life, but about the individual perception of this threat. Several people will be in the same situation and only one will experience a conflict of abandonment, a feeling of loneliness or a feeling that there is no support. The rest will react in their own way, with their own conflicts and suffering. As we have said in this space, it largely depends on the family's programs, gender, programming phase and children's stories.
The evolution of living organisms originates in water, in the seas, when water was life. Imagine that a fish has washed up on the shore. What will happen? Will the fish die immediately? Nature has a biological program in which fish deprived of water can temporarily survive by blocking the removal of fluid from the tissues. By holding the life-giving liquid inside, the fish is able to hold out until a new wave takes it back and returns it to a safe place for life.
This implies the biological meaning of changes in the STP: WHEN THE BRAIN REGISTERS A THREAT TO LIFE, IT TRY TO PREVENT THE DYING OF THE ORGANISM BY RETENTION OF WATER IN IT. The program works instantly.
In the active phase of these conflicts, as in any glandular tissue, the number of cells increases, and tiny STP tumors grow. The tubes are very thin and even a slight swelling of this channel in the active phase of conflicts prevents urine from leaking out. When a person urinates, a minimal amount of fluid is released, the fluid is retained “in reserve”, swelling, “bags” appear, as well as (oh my God!) excess weight that “does not fall off”, despite regular exercise, a normal diet or even fasting. The best depot for fluid in our body is adipose tissue, so a person quickly gains weight due to the accumulation of water.
But the body retains not only water, it does not allow the removal of end products of breakdown, such as creatinine and urea. That is why, under the influence of these conflicts of existence, their indicators in the blood increase. This also has a biological basis, going back to our distant ancestors living in water. The fact is that the body, in danger of extinction, is able to process the nitrogen-containing breakdown products stored in the urine back into protein, providing the body not only with water but also with nutrients. A person naturally does not need this, but the programs of our ancestors, formed over millions of years of evolution, continue to operate in us and it is unknown how long it will take to rebuild them.
Medicine traditionally views uremia (excessive amounts of urea and other nitrogen-containing compounds in the blood) as a consequence of renal failure, which is considered a life-threatening disease, and dialysis is prescribed. But understanding the laws of Biology again and again makes it clear that the danger to life lies in the very conflict of existence, and it must be resolved first of all.
In the recovery phase, that is, from the moment the conflict is resolved, after a few hours the person runs to the toilet, the tubules uncork and immediately begin to excrete urine again. The output of urine can be very large (polyuria) and this is something to be happy about. If the mass of the conflict (duration and intensity of the conflict) was very large, caseous-tuberculous tumor disintegration will be noticeable, and kidney tuberculosis may even be diagnosed. This is the phase of recovery from the conflict of existence. The STP tumor disintegrates naturally with the help of fungi and mycobacteria.
During recovery, inflammation may temporarily decrease the overall function of the kidneys (not just the collecting ducts) and then proteinuria or albuminuria can be diagnosed. The protein will be excreted in the urine, since glomerular filtration stops working normally; normally, it is filtered out by the glomeruli immediately and remains in the blood. Protein loss can be dangerous as it causes greater weakness. Protein in the body needs to be increased. Medicine restores protein deficiency in different ways. But Roberto Barnai in such cases recommends eating raw eggs - 2-4 raw eggs per day. I had the opportunity to test the effect of raw eggs on myself and my loved ones several times, it really works, strength and performance increase even from one raw (!) farm egg. You don't have to believe it - check it out! It is also now possible and necessary to restore the intake of a normal amount of water. In addition to protein in the urine, symptoms of the recovery phase may include decreased creatinine, blood in the urine, severe night sweats, cloudy urine, and pus. All this speaks of recovery and should not scare you. At the end of the recovery phase, everything returns to normal.
"Syndrome"
A little more about “SYNDROME” - this term is used in Biology in a special sense and I have mentioned it more than once in other articles. “Syndrome” in Biology is a combination of two disease programs: any program of biological changes at the recovery stage (one) and the program of the renal collecting ducts in the active phase (two).
This can be easily imagined: for example, a person resolves his internal conflict of separation and enters the recovery phase, he develops skin symptoms (itching, redness, etc.), a slight swelling in the brain and tissues, which is necessary for their recovery. As a result, the person gets scared, doesn’t know what awaits him, what will happen next, whether he can cope with it, he has a feeling of threat and the STP program is immediately activated - the swelling intensifies, Quincke’s edema occurs, a new threat, strengthening of the STP program.
When the body retains water due to an active conflict of existence, water also accumulates abundantly in the swelling around the organ or tissue, enhancing the repair process. Additional water retention from existential threat conflict increases this edema, as well as the size of some tumors, the size of cysts, etc.
Thus, the severity of recovery after any conflicts depends not only on their duration and intensity, but also on the “Syndrome,” that is, the activation of the kidney collecting duct program. Whether the STP program is activated can be determined by the level of urea and creatinine, as well as by computed tomography of the brain, on which all these lesions and edema are visible.
Harmless swelling can turn dangerous, causing occlusion of tubular organs such as the colon or bile ducts, requiring surgery and hospitalization. Mild pain due to swelling will turn into unbearable. Brain edema as a natural thing in the recovery phase also in the “Syndrome” leads to serious and even fatal complications (for example, stroke). Without the Syndrome there will be no Quincke’s edema, there will be no gout, prolapse of hemorrhoids, ascites, large cerebral edema, glaucoma, cardiac arrest, etc., etc., etc.
A couple of additional words about gout: Gout is diagnosed when two conflicts occur simultaneously: 1. the conflict of physical self-depreciation in the recovery phase (affecting the joints); 2. conflict of refugee, abandonment, existence in the active phase (affecting the collecting ducts of the kidneys).
Gout manifests itself when the conflict of physical self-depreciation has been resolved, but the refugee conflict is still active. That is, the same Syndrome occurs. With gout, tests show that the level of uric acid is increased. This allowed us to conclude that it was the cause of gout. But, as we have already said, increasing the level of creatinine and uric acid also makes sense in biology: in the event of an inevitable protein deficiency (lack of food), the body is able to process these substances to obtain it. This is a natural and understandable reaction to a conflict, a threat to existence, abandonment, a refugee.
Conflict resolution...
Based on the above, with any biological changes, it is first of all necessary to resolve the conflict of abandonment. This is adequate
priority! Resolution of this conflict initiates the immediate removal of excess water from the body, as a result of which swelling quickly subsides and pain decreases.
In the case of STP, it is generally important to calm yourself down and not be scared. Each relapse of the conflict of existence interrupts the recovery process, “stuck recovery” spoils the kidney tissue that does so much for us.
1. Knowledge of what is actually happening to the body and soul helps resolve this conflict.
2. Moreover, the main cure for this conflict is the feeling that “I am completely safe!” Security is not tied to anything that we have built up a lot of illusions on. Security is different, it is in other dimensions. I understand that it sounds mystical, but nevertheless, admit the thought that “NO ONE DIES BEFORE THEIR TIME.” Of course, this is not always easy to immediately realize, a person has been waging a useless struggle with death for thousands of years, but now another, spiritual time has come - suddenly it will work out))
3. Sometimes, to resolve an existential threat conflict, you need to provide yourself with support, find friends to cry to, join a group of like-minded people, update your contact list, create a list of emergency numbers, and so on. You simply must replace what deprives you of a sense of security, safety, which leads to a state of loneliness, an outcast, abandonment in this world, with calm and relaxation. And this commitment is exclusively to yourself!
4. In our world it is difficult to imagine a situation in which you cannot drink and eat enough, rather the opposite. Remind yourself of this more often: “I will always find something to eat!”, “I am not in danger of dehydration and hunger”, “There is a lot of water and salt around me”, “I am completely safe!”, “Even when I am alone, there is always someone that is, nearby!”, “They can protect me!” and so on.
This will deprive your brain of the need to accumulate water in reserve.
The best way to reduce excessive swelling and excessive pain in a person who is sick is support, care, home care, comfort, delicious food, and a feeling of safety in the world. Support and care, confidence and reassurance have the main healing effect here.
And about one more method of “emergency response”, which I have never tried on myself, but Vyacheslav Neufeld (my teacher) has repeatedly recommended it as an emergency (and not only) help. If a person cannot quickly resolve the conflict of a refugee and an existential threat, he needs to feel at a biological level in a safe environment. “Cell memory” plays a decisive role here. A person needs to take salt baths with a salt concentration of 0.9% (1 kg of salt per 99 liters of water). Thus, the conflict is resolved at the biological level, the feeling of being “stranded” goes away, the body finds itself “at home”, in the sea, in a safe environment, and now it is able to recover and remove a large amount of excessively accumulated fluid.
Be healthy!
You can easily afford it!
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How does a nephron work?
The human kidneys pump all the blood through themselves, separating fluid and small elements and gradually forming urine from this. They also regulate the amount and composition of fluid in the body.
Therefore, edema is so often associated with impaired renal function and especially glomerulonephritis, and the diseases themselves are detected by the composition of urine. A urine test shows whether nephron filters allow something unnecessary to pass through and whether they return what is needed into the bloodstream.
Each nephron functions in several stages, so that urine is formed as a result of four processes:
- Filtration (purification of fluid from the blood that needs to be removed).
- Reabsorption (return of residual nutrients into the blood).
- Secretion (removal of necessary substances from cells).
- Removing excess and unhealthy substances with urine.
In this way, through the kidneys, the composition of the blood and the volume of fluid in the tissues are normalized, and blood pressure returns to its normal values. Since the structure of the nephron is related to its functions, the problem in any of these processes is physical destruction or deformation of the nephron.
How to prevent nephron dysfunction
Nephrons become damaged and even atrophy due to disease and drug toxicity. Among the diseases, the most destructive effects are diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure and other vascular disorders, and alcoholism. Gout, stone formation, infections, inflammatory processes, complications after influenza and streptococcus are slightly less harmful.
Even if hypertension is caused by “frivolous” factors, for example, VSD or stress, at the time of high numbers on the tonometer, the kidneys are under overload. Every minute of elevated sugar has a destructive effect on the organ, due to the thickness of the blood and the need to remove sugar quickly and a lot.
Prevention of these diseases and control of their course help stop or avoid the death of nephrons.
