Nierenkapillaren

Nierenkapillaren, also known as glomerular capillaries, are tiny blood vessels found within the nephrons of the kidney. They form a dense network within a structure called the glomerulus. The primary function of Nierenkapillaren is to facilitate the filtration of blood, a crucial step in the formation of urine.

Blood enters the glomerulus through the afferent arteriole and is filtered across the specialized wall of the Nierenkapillaren. This filtration barrier, composed of the capillary endothelium, the glomerular basement membrane, and the podocytes of Bowman's capsule, allows water and small solutes to pass into Bowman's capsule while retaining larger molecules like proteins and blood cells. This filtered fluid, known as glomerular filtrate, then proceeds through the rest of the nephron for further processing.

The structure of the Nierenkapillaren is highly adapted for efficient filtration. Their small diameter and large surface area maximize the rate of filtration. The high pressure within the glomerular capillaries, maintained by the difference in diameter between the afferent and efferent arterioles, also drives the filtration process. Damage to Nierenkapillaren can impair kidney function and lead to various renal diseases.