Loop of Henle

Definition

The loop of Henle is a U-shaped tube in the nephron, within the kidney, that plays a crucial role in concentrating urine and conserving water. It accomplishes this by creating a gradient of salinity that allows for the reabsorption of water from the filtrate.

Related terms

Nephron:

The functional unit of the kidney responsible for filtering blood and forming urine.

Glomerulus: A network of capillaries encased in a membrane in the kidney where filtration of blood begins.

Tubular Reabsorption:

The process by which solutes and water are removed from tubular fluid and transported into blood