BiologyHuman Physiology11 minIntermediate
Glomerulus and Filtration
Trace how blood pressure, capillaries, podocytes, and Bowman's capsule form the kidney's filtration barrier.
1
Afferent arteriole
Blood vessel that brings blood into the glomerulus.
The glomerulus filters blood by forcing plasma through a specialized barrier. Small solutes and water pass into Bowman's space, while blood cells and many large proteins remain in circulation.
Podocytes and their filtration slits are central to this selectivity. The filtrate then enters the proximal tubule, where useful molecules begin to be reabsorbed.
Key Idea
Filtration is not simple leaking. It is controlled by pressure, vessel shape, and a layered barrier that selects what can pass.