glomeruluskapszulás

The glomeruluskapszulás, also known as Bowman's capsule, is a cup-like sac of capillaries within the kidney that surrounds the glomerulus. It is the beginning of the nephron, the functional unit of the kidney. The primary function of the glomeruluskapszulás is to filter blood. As blood flows through the glomerulus, water and small solutes are forced from the capillaries into the capsular space. This process, called glomerular filtration, is the first step in urine formation.

The filtration barrier is composed of three layers: the fenestrated endothelium of the glomerular capillaries, the glomerular basement membrane, and the podocytes of the visceral layer of the Bowman's capsule. These layers work together to prevent large molecules, such as proteins and blood cells, from entering the capsular space while allowing water and small solutes like ions, glucose, and amino acids to pass through. The filtered fluid, known as glomerular filtrate, then enters the renal tubule for further processing. The hydrostatic pressure within the glomerular capillaries is the main driving force for filtration. Diseases affecting the glomeruluskapszulás, such as glomerulonephritis, can impair kidney function by disrupting this filtration process.