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What is the Distal Convoluted Tubule?

H. Colledge
H. Colledge

A distal convoluted tubule is a twisted, tube-like structure about 0.2 inches (around 5 mm) in length, found inside a part of the kidney known as a nephron. Each kidney contains many nephrons, and these are the functional units in which blood is filtered to form urine. One nephron is made up of a renal corpuscle, containing tiny blood vessels where blood is filtered, and a renal tubule. A renal tubule consists of three different sections, which carry the filtered fluid, or filtrate, away from the kidney while processing it to create urine. The distal convoluted tubule is the section farthest away from the renal corpuscle, and the cells that line it are able to actively pump potentially harmful substances, such as ammonia, urea and certain drugs, out of the blood and into the urine.

Each kidney contains more than one million nephrons and, together, the kidneys can filter all of the body's blood within about five minutes. Blood passes into the renal corpuscle inside a nephron and enters a knot of tiny blood vessels, known as a glomerulus, at relatively high pressure. It filters through gaps in the blood vessel walls and then through slits in the wall of the capsule that cups the glomerulus, draining into a space inside the capsule. Large molecules cannot pass through and remain in the blood, while water and dissolved waste products end up inside the capsule space. From there they drain into the renal tubule and the process of urine formation takes place.

A diagram of a kidney.
A diagram of a kidney.

Inside the first section of the renal tubule, called the proximal convoluted tubule, useful nutrients and minerals are absorbed from the filtrate, together with water. These pass into surrounding blood vessels to be returned to the general circulation. Next, within the section known as the loop of Henle, the concentration and volume of the filtrate are regulated to maintain the body's fluid balance.

The nephrons are the part of the kidneys that filter the body's blood.
The nephrons are the part of the kidneys that filter the body's blood.

Finally, inside the distal convoluted tubule, useful substances are returned to the blood, while waste products and toxins are added to the filtrate. Hydrogen is also pumped in, making the urine pH more acidic. The distal convoluted tubule walls do not normally allow water to pass through, but a hormone known as antidiuretic hormone, or ADH, can open channels which allow water to move out, concentrating the urine.

The pH of urine is lowered thanks to the distal convoluted tubule, making it more acidic.
The pH of urine is lowered thanks to the distal convoluted tubule, making it more acidic.

From the distal convoluted tubule, filtrate drains into what are known as collecting ducts. These are tubes which receive filtrate from the distal convoluted tubules of many nephrons. Inside these collecting ducts, water can be absorbed to regulate the final concentration of urine produced by the kidneys. On leaving the collecting ducts, urine enters a space known as the renal pelvis, from where it passes into the bladder and is expelled from the body during urination.

Discussion Comments

SimpleByte

@Nefertini - Good advice. Drinking water helps the kidneys filter out the urea and other potentially harmful substances through its tubules. Caffeine overconsumption, in contrast, has a dehydrating effect on the body and can promote the development of kidney stones.

Nefertini

With diseases that can adversely affect the kidneys like diabetes and high blood pressure becoming more common, it's important to make health and fitness a priority. Keeping weight and blood pressure under control with exercise and a balanced diet along with drinking plenty of water will help your kidneys and the distal convoluted tubules do their work.

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    • A diagram of a kidney.
      By: kocakayaali
      A diagram of a kidney.
    • The nephrons are the part of the kidneys that filter the body's blood.
      By: designua
      The nephrons are the part of the kidneys that filter the body's blood.
    • The pH of urine is lowered thanks to the distal convoluted tubule, making it more acidic.
      By: Shawn Hempel
      The pH of urine is lowered thanks to the distal convoluted tubule, making it more acidic.
    • There are many nephrons inside a kidney, around a million in total.
      By: freshidea
      There are many nephrons inside a kidney, around a million in total.
    • The nephrons assist the kidneys in filtering the body's entire blood supply within about five minutes.
      By: 7activestudio
      The nephrons assist the kidneys in filtering the body's entire blood supply within about five minutes.
    • The kidney contains 4 million nephrons, which are responsible for filtering the blood.
      By: reineg
      The kidney contains 4 million nephrons, which are responsible for filtering the blood.