The nephron has two main parts: a renal corpuscle and renal tubule. The collecting duct and papillary ducts are part of the kidney, but are not part of the nephron. Even though nephrons are the functional units of kidneys, these other parts of the kidney assist the actual nephrons with regulation of urine production. Which of the following cells involved in regulation of kidney function and maintenance of homeostasis is NOT part of the nephron?
A) juxtaglomerular cells
B) intercalated cells
C) podocytes
D) macula densa cells

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The juxtaglomerular cells are specialized smooth muscle cells of afferent arterioles located beside the macula densa cells of the ascending limb of the nephron loop. They function with the macula densa cells to regulate blood pressure and thus kidney function, but are not part of the nephron tubule. Intercalated cells are found, along with principal cells, in the last part of the distal convoluted tubule, as well as the collecting duct, so some of them are part of the nephron and some are part of the collecting duct. The podocytes form the visceral layer of the renal corpuscle, so they are part of the nephron.

The Nephron Has Two Main Parts: a Renal Corpuscle and Renal