Podocytes cling to capillary walls leaving pores allowing easy passage for small molecules. Process is glomerular filtration . Named because it is nearest glomerular capsule. Has cuboidal cells with inner brush border or microvilli to increase surface area for tubular reabsorption . Cells have many mitochondria to supply energy for active transport.
Convoluted tubules lie within renal cortex.
Tubule narrows and forms U-shaped turn with simple squamous epithelium. Distal convoluted tubule has cuboidal cells with many mitochondria but no microvilli. Active in tubular secretion for moving molecules from blood into tubule. Glomerular Filtration a. Occurs when whole blood enters afferent arteriole and glomerulus. Glomerular filtrate dissolved molecules are about same concentration as plasma .