Why is the loop of henle a loop

Sign In Join Now. Welcome to LifeMap Discovery. Watch the introductory video to learn more about our database of embryonic development for stem cell research and regenerative medicine. Embryonic Index: Kid. The Loop of Henle LoH is a long, straight, tubular segment connecting the proximal tubule to the distal convoluted tubule and lies parallel to the collecting ducts.

This part of the Nephron is called the Loop of Henle. The loop of Henle function is to reabsorb water and sodium chloride from the filtrate.

This conserves water for the organism, resulting in highly concentrated urine. In other words, the Loop of Henle is a heterogeneous segment that comprises the pars recta of the proximal tubule, the thin descending and ascending limbs along the medullary and cortical thick.

Species that live in arid environments such as deserts carry highly efficient loops of Henle. In the anatomy area, the loop of Henle is divided into three different sections- thin descending limb, thin ascending limb and thick ascending limb. The first portion of the loop is the thin descending limb which is permeable to water. The descending loop of Henle is an important function.

The liquid that reaches the bend of the loop is richer in salt and urea than the blood plasma. As the liquid returns through the thin ascending limb, sodium chloride diffuses out of the tubule into the surrounding tissue.

In the third segment of the loop, the thick ascending limb, affects further removal of salt, against the concentration gradient. Cushny AR. The Secretion of Urine. Longmans, Green and Co. Peter K. Fisher Iena, — Richards AN. Urine formation in the amphibian kidney.

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Helv Physiol Acta ; 14 : — Smith HW. Principles of Renal Physiology. Oxford University Press, New York: Gottschalk CW, Mylle M. Micropuncture study of the mammalian urinary concentrating mechanism: evidence for the counter-current hypothesis. The fate of sodium and water in the renal tubules. Proc NY Acad Med ; 35 : — Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford.

It furthers the University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide. Sign In or Create an Account. Sign In. Advanced Search. Search Menu. Article Navigation. Close mobile search navigation Article Navigation. Volume Article Contents References. The loop of Henle, a turning-point in the history of kidney physiology. Oxford Academic. Google Scholar. Select Format Select format. Permissions Icon Permissions.

Open in new tab Download slide. Editor's note. Harvey Lect. Processes of urine formation, Proc Roy Soc B. Am J Physiol.