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Compare the functioning of alveoli in the lungs and nephrons in the kidneys with respect to their structure and functioning.
By BYJU'S Exam Prep
Updated on: September 25th, 2023
The functioning of alveoli in the lungs and nephrons in the kidneys with respect to their structure and functioning are:
Nephron:
- They are the kidney’s structural and operational units.
- It is found in the kidney and aids in urine excretion.
Alveoli:
- They are the lungs’ structural and operational units.
- They are the primary respiratory structures that are found in the lungs.
Table of content
Difference between Alveoli in Lungs and Nephrons in Kidneys
The functioning of alveoli in the lungs and nephrons in the kidneys with respect to their structure and functioning is tabulated below.
|
Alveoli |
Nephron |
|
They are tinier, air sac-like organs found near the tips of bronchioles in the lungs. |
They are inside kidney structures that resemble tubes. |
|
consists of squamous epithelium. |
consists of cuboidal epithelium and has the glomerulus, bowman capsule, and long renal tube as structural components. |
|
They are composed of a vast network of blood capillaries and are one cell thick. |
They are comprised of blood vessels and are surrounded by blood vessels. |
|
There are about 480 million alveoli in each lung. |
The number of nephrons in the kidney is approximately 1.5 million. |
|
The site of gaseous exchange is the alveoli. |
The kidney’s main filtration system is the nephron. |
|
Between the blood in capillaries and the gases in the alveoli, there is an exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. |
Ultrafiltration, selective reabsorption and tubular secretion are the three functions of the nephron. |
|
Airflow from high partial pressure to low partial pressure occurs inside the alveoli, where the partial pressure of oxygen is 100 mm of Hg and that of carbon dioxide is 40 mm of Hg. |
Our urine is acidic in nature because it contains hydrogen ions as a result of these nephron processes. |
|
This slight variation allows for the passage of gases between blood capillaries and alveoli. |
Blood enters the kidney, and the collecting duct collects urine, which is a nitrogenous waste. |
Summary:
Compare the functioning of alveoli in the lungs and nephrons in the kidneys with respect to their structure and functioning.
The above table summarises the structure and operation of the kidney’s nephrons and the lung’s alveoli, respectively. There are about 480 million alveoli in the lungs whereas 1.5 million nephrons in the kidney
