The nephron is the functional unit of which organ?

Study for the Pivot Point The Building Blocks of the Human Body 105E.01. Engage with multiple choice questions and flashcards, complete with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

The nephron is the functional unit of which organ?

Explanation:
The nephron is the kidney’s basic working unit for filtering blood and forming urine. Blood is filtered in the glomerulus, producing a filtrate that then passes through tubular segments where essential substances and most of the water are reabsorbed, wastes are secreted, and the final urine is concentrated in the collecting ducts. This combined process regulates fluid balance, electrolyte levels, acid-base status, and waste removal—core roles of the kidney. Other organs have different functional units: the liver uses hepatic lobules to process metabolites and produce bile, the heart relies on contractile heart muscle cells to pump blood, and the lungs use alveoli for gas exchange. Since the nephron carries out filtration and urine formation, it belongs to the kidney.

The nephron is the kidney’s basic working unit for filtering blood and forming urine. Blood is filtered in the glomerulus, producing a filtrate that then passes through tubular segments where essential substances and most of the water are reabsorbed, wastes are secreted, and the final urine is concentrated in the collecting ducts. This combined process regulates fluid balance, electrolyte levels, acid-base status, and waste removal—core roles of the kidney.

Other organs have different functional units: the liver uses hepatic lobules to process metabolites and produce bile, the heart relies on contractile heart muscle cells to pump blood, and the lungs use alveoli for gas exchange. Since the nephron carries out filtration and urine formation, it belongs to the kidney.

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