Structure of the Kidney
The kidneys are covered by a thin, tough membranous capsule made of tough fibres of collagen and elastin. There are three main areas. The outer cortex which has a dense network of capillaries, the medulla which contains parts of the filtering and collecting units - nephrons - and the pelvis where urine collects before passing into the ureter.

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Key terms in this lesson
- Nephron
- The microscopic filtering and reabsorption unit of the kidney, consisting of the Bowman's capsule, proximal and distal convoluted tubules, loop of Henle and collecting duct.
More in Homeostasis
- Transamination and Deamination
- Detoxification
- Production of Bile Salts, Bile Pigments and Cholesterol
- The Kidneys
- Nephrons
- Bowman's Capsule
- Glomerulus
- Proximal Convoluted Tubule
All 33 lessons in Homeostasis · All OCR A-level Biology topics