Manitoba Nephrology Nurse Practice Test

Filtration is the primary process that occurs in the glomerulus, which is a network of capillaries located at the beginning of each nephron in the kidney. During the filtration phase, blood enters the glomerulus under high pressure. This pressure forces water, small solutes, and waste products through the glomerular filtration membrane while retaining larger molecules like proteins and blood cells within the bloodstream. The filtrate that is formed contains substances such as glucose, salts, urea, and other metabolites, which are essential for the kidney’s function of maintaining homeostasis.

The glomerulus is specifically designed for this filtration process due to its unique structure, which includes fenestrated capillaries that allow for the selective passage of materials. The efficiency of this filtration is crucial to the overall functioning of the kidneys, as it initiates the process of urine formation while ensuring that vital components of the blood are conserved.