The nephron is the functional unit of the vertebrate kidney. Each human kidney has about one million of these tiny structures. The regions of the nephron from the site that first receives the filtered fluid from the blood are: renal capsule, proximal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle, distal convoluted tubule. Several nephrons empty into one collecting duct. Cells of the nephron wall process the material filtered from the blood, returning valuable substances to the bloodstream and collecting additional wastes for excretion.
