Question

What is loop of henle?

Answer 1

the part of a kidney tubule which forms a long loop in the medulla of the kidney, from which water and salts are resorbed into the blood

Answer 2

Answer :-

The loop through which important solutes and water molecules are re-absorbed from the filtrate, is termed as the "Loop of Henle".

The characteristic features of the "Loop of Henle" are as follows :-

• The "Loop of Henle" is situated in the medulla of the kidney.

• "Loop of Henle" consists of a thin segment descending limb, a thin segment ascending limb and a thick segment ascending limb.

• "Loop of Henle" is longer in mammals and birds which secrete "Hypersmotic Urine".

• "Loop of Henle" is shorter in the vertebrates which do not posses the ability to secrete "Hypersmotic Urine".

• About 5% of the water in the filtrate is re-absorbed through osmosis from the descending limbs of the loop of Henle.

• The descending limb of the loop of Henle is not permeable to ions such as "Na+" and other solutes.

• No water is re-absorbed along with the solutes because the ascending limb of the loop of Henle is not permeable to water.

Extra Information :-

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• The filtrate becomes more dilute (Hypotonic) than Plasma as it flows through the ascending limb of the loop of Henle.

• The re-absorbption of water through the loop of Henle is termed as "Obligatory water re-absorbption".