Nephrons are the functional unit of the kidneys of the renal system. They are the cells that make up the kidneys and therefore are responsible for its function. They usually have excretory, absorbent, and filtering functions just as the whole kidney does.
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nephrons filter the blood removing waste making urine.
A nephron (from Greek νεφρός (nephros) meaning "kidney") is the basic structural and functional unit of the kidney. Its chief function is to regulate water and soluble substances by filtering the blood, reabsorbing what is needed and excreting the rest as urine. Nephrons eliminate wastes from the body, regulate blood volume and pressure, control levels of electrolytes and metabolites, and regulate blood pH. Its functions are vital to life and are regulated by the endocrine system by hormones such as antidiuretic hormone, aldosterone, and parathyroid hormone1.
For more in depth information on types of nephrons and their individual functions, please see the source below.
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nephron
A nephron is a functional unit of the kidney. Each kidney contains about a million of nephrons. The nephron contains the glomerulus, bowman's capsule, proximal tubule,loop of henle, distal tubule, and collecting tubule. The glomerulus filtrates blood, and the bowman capsule collects the filtrate. The proximal tubule reabsorbs ions, water, and organic molecules such as amino acids and glucous. The decending limb of loop of henle reabsorbs water, and the ascending limb of loop of henle reabsorbs salt. The distal tubule reabsorbs bicarbonate ions, and secretes hydrogen ions to control blood pH. The collecting tubule reabsorbs water, salt, and some urea.
The main function of the nephrons in the human kidney is to filter the blood. It does this by regulating the concentration of water and sodium salts.
This collecting duct is where urea and water, along with a few other unabsorbed molecules, is collected and passed down the ureter to the bladder.