What structure filters out waste products and reabsorbs nutrients into the blood?

The nephrons are the functional units of the kidneys responsible for filtering blood and forming urine. Each nephron consists of a glomerulus, which performs the initial filtration of blood, and a tubule system that reabsorbs nutrients, water, and electrolytes back into the bloodstream while allowing waste products to be excreted.

The role of nephrons in filtering waste products and reabsorbing nutrients is fundamental to maintaining the body's fluid and electrolyte balance, as well as regulating blood pressure and the overall stability of internal environments (homeostasis). They achieve this through processes such as filtration, reabsorption, and secretion, making them essential for proper kidney function and overall health.

While the kidneys contain many nephrons and thus play a broader role in waste management and homeostasis, it is specifically the nephrons that are directly involved in filtering waste and reabsorbing valuable nutrients. The glomerulus, although crucial as part of the nephron system, is just one component of the filtration process. The ureters, on the other hand, function to transport urine from the kidneys to the bladder and are not involved in filtration or reabsorption.