Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
The renal corpuscle is the initial filtering component of a nephron in the kidney. It consists of the glomerulus and Bowman's capsule, which together filter blood to form urine.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
The renal corpuscle is located in the cortex of the kidney.
Blood enters the glomerulus through the afferent arteriole and exits through the efferent arteriole.
Bowman's capsule surrounds the glomerulus and captures filtrate that passes through glomerular capillaries.
The filtration barrier in the renal corpuscle prevents large molecules like proteins from passing into Bowman's capsule.
Podocytes are specialized cells in Bowman's capsule that play a critical role in filtration by forming slit diaphragms.
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Related terms
Nephron: A functional unit of the kidney responsible for filtering blood and forming urine.
Glomerulus: A network of capillaries within the renal corpuscle that performs blood filtration.
Bowman’s Capsule: A cup-like sac at the beginning of a nephron that encloses the glomerulus and receives filtrate.