What is the primary function of nephrons in the kidneys?

The primary function of nephrons, which are the basic structural and functional units of the kidneys, is the filtration of blood to form urine. Nephrons play a crucial role in maintaining the body's fluid and electrolyte balance by filtering waste products from the blood, reabsorbing essential substances, and excreting the remaining wastes as urine.

In the nephron, blood enters the glomerulus, where it is filtered under pressure. The filtrate then passes through various segments of the nephron, including the proximal convoluted tubule and loop of Henle, where selective reabsorption occurs. This process ensures that vital nutrients, such as glucose and certain ions, are retained while waste products such as urea and creatinine are excreted.

Other functions like hormone production and regulation of blood pressure are indeed important aspects of kidney function but are not the direct primary role of the nephron itself. Hormones like erythropoietin and renin are produced in other parts of the kidney, while blood pressure regulation is influenced by various mechanisms, including the overall kidney function and the renin-angiotensin system, rather than being a direct action of each nephron. The storage of urine occurs in the bladder, not the neph