singlenephron

Single nephron (singlenephron) refers to the functional analysis of the kidney at the level of an individual nephron, the microscopic structural unit that filters blood and forms urine. In this view, researchers and clinicians consider how glomerular filtration, tubular reabsorption, and secretion operate within a single nephron, rather than across the whole kidney.

An individual nephron begins with the glomerulus, where blood is filtered to produce filtrate. The filtrate then passes through the proximal tubule, loop of Henle, distal tubule, and collecting duct, undergoing selective reabsorption and secretion that concentrate or dilute urine. The rate at which a single nephron filters plasma, and the subsequent handling of filtrate along its tubule, can vary among nephrons and can be altered by physiological and pathological conditions. The term single-nephron glomerular filtration rate (SNGFR) is used to describe the filtration rate of an individual nephron, and is a useful concept for studying kidney function and disease at high resolution.

Measurement and study of single-nephron function have been used in experimental settings with micropuncture, micropipette perfusion, and modern imaging in animal models, as well as in clinical research to understand the determinants of glomerular and tubular function. Variations among nephrons, and changes in SNGFR and tubular transport in disease states such as hypertension, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease, can influence overall kidney function and the progression of kidney injury.