Peritubular capillaries

Definition

Peritubular capillaries are a network of tiny blood vessels that surround the tubules of the nephron in the kidneys, where substances are exchanged between blood and the tubular fluid. They play a crucial role in reabsorbing water and solutes back into the bloodstream from the filtrate produced in the glomerulus.

Related terms

Nephron: The functional unit of the kidney that filters blood to form urine, consisting of a glomerulus and its associated tubule.

Glomerulus: A tiny ball-shaped structure composed of capillary blood vessels actively involved in the filtration of blood to form urine.

Tubular Reabsorption: The process by which solutes and water are removed from renal tubular fluid and transported into the blood, primarily occurring in the proximal convoluted tubule