What is a labeled nephron diagram?

A labeled nephron diagram names the glomerulus, Bowman's capsule, proximal and distal tubules, loop of Henle, collecting duct, and usually the afferent and efferent arterioles. Download the labeled version free at the top of this page.

Can I get a blank nephron worksheet?

Yes. The blank / unlabeled nephron uses the same layout with empty leader lines so students can fill in the names — ideal for quizzes and homework.

What does a nephron do?

A nephron filters blood in the glomerulus, then reabsorbs useful substances and secretes wastes along the tubules so the fluid that reaches the collecting duct becomes urine.

How is a nephron different from the whole kidney?

The kidney is the organ; the nephron is one of about a million microscopic filtering units inside it. Kidney diagrams show cortex, medulla, and pelvis; nephron diagrams zoom into a single unit.

In what order does filtrate flow through the nephron?

Bowman's capsule → proximal convoluted tubule → loop of Henle → distal convoluted tubule → collecting duct, then toward the renal pelvis and ureter.

Are these nephron diagrams free to print?

Yes. Every diagram on this page is free to view, download, and print with no account required.

The functional filtering unit of the kidney

The outer capsule of the kidney only

Where does filtration of blood first occur?

Glomerulus into Bowman's capsule

The loop of Henle mainly helps to…

Create a salt gradient for water reabsorption

Filtrate becomes more like final urine after passing through the…

Proximal tubule, loop, distal tubule, and collecting duct

Which sequence is correct after filtration?

Bowman's capsule → proximal tubule → loop of Henle → distal tubule → collecting duct

Collecting duct → proximal tubule → glomerulus

Ureter → glomerulus → bladder

Distal tubule → glomerulus → afferent arteriole

Biology Resource

Nephron Diagram Labeled, Blank & Printable

Free nephron diagrams — labeled, blank, simple, glomerulus focus, and coloring. View, download, or print; no sign-up.

Fully labeled nephronBlank worksheet versionGlomerulus focus + kidney contextFree to download & print — no sign-up

Free Nephron Diagrams

Every version below is free to view and download — no sign-up.

Labeled

Labeled Nephron Diagram

Full functional unit labeled — corpuscle, tubules, loop of Henle, and collecting duct.

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Core diagrams

Structure & focus

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Test yourself: nephron

A quick self-test — questions reshuffle each time, with a review of anything you miss at the end.

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What is a nephron?

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What is a nephron diagram?

A nephron diagram shows the functional unit of the kidney — the tiny tube that filters blood and adjusts water and solutes to form urine. Real nephrons are microscopic, so diagrams enlarge one unit: the glomerulus and Bowman's capsule (renal corpuscle), the proximal and distal convoluted tubules, the loop of Henle, and the collecting duct, often with afferent and efferent arterioles. Use a labeled version to learn the order of parts, or a blank version as a quiz.

Parts of the nephron

Glomerulus: a ball of capillaries where blood is filtered under pressure.
Bowman's (glomerular) capsule: the cup that catches filtrate around the glomerulus.
Proximal convoluted tubule: reabsorbs much of the water, ions, and nutrients from filtrate.
Loop of Henle: descends into the medulla and helps create the salt gradient for concentrating urine.
Distal convoluted tubule: further adjusts ions and pH under hormonal control.
Collecting duct: receives fluid from many nephrons and finalizes water reabsorption; urine then moves toward the pelvis.

Nephron in the kidney

Each human kidney contains roughly one million nephrons. Corpuscles sit in the cortex; loops of Henle and collecting ducts run into the medulla. Blood arrives via branches of the renal artery; filtered blood leaves via the renal vein; urine exits through the ureter. A “nephron in kidney” diagram links one unit to the whole organ — useful before zooming into structure alone.

How to use these free diagrams

Teach with the fully labeled nephron, then assess with the matching blank worksheet. The simple version introduces the filter → tube → loop idea for younger students. The glomerulus focus supports lessons on filtration pressure and arterioles. The kidney-context figure answers “where is this inside the organ?” All assets are free to view, download, and print with no sign-up.

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What is a nephron diagram?

Parts of the nephron

Glomerulus: a ball of capillaries where blood is filtered under pressure.

Bowman's (glomerular) capsule: the cup that catches filtrate around the glomerulus.

Proximal convoluted tubule: reabsorbs much of the water, ions, and nutrients from filtrate.

Loop of Henle: descends into the medulla and helps create the salt gradient for concentrating urine.

Distal convoluted tubule: further adjusts ions and pH under hormonal control.

Collecting duct: receives fluid from many nephrons and finalizes water reabsorption; urine then moves toward the pelvis.

Nephron in the kidney

How to use these free diagrams