Question

Write the functions of Bowman's capsule.

Answer 1

Hint: Bowman's capsule is a cup-like sack present at the beginning of the tubular component of a nephron of mammals. It receives the filtrate from glomerulus and filters it again.

Complete answer:
In this question, we have asked the function of Bowman's capsule. As we know, Bowman's capsule is a double walled capsule, which surrounds the glomerulus. Bowman's capsule consists of two epithelium.

The main function of glomerulus is to receive filtrate from the glomerulus and filter it again. The glomerulus is made up of capillaries. These capillaries receive blood from the afferent arteriole and transport it to the efferent arteriole.

The blood then diffuses into the Bowman's capsule by crossing 3 layers: endothelium of glomerulus, basement membrane of the glomerulus and the epithelium of Bowman's capsule.

When blood comes into Bowman's capsule through glomerulus, only the small molecules and water are allowed to pass through these three membranes. So, the filtered blood from the glomerulus reaches Bowman's capsule. A cell named podocytes is present at the visceral layer of the Bowman's capsule, which has spaces between them.

The glomerular filtrate is now passed by these podocytes. Here, the podocytes work as sieve and filter the glomerular filtrate. So, we can say, the main function of Bowman's capsule is filtration of glomerular filtrate.

Note: As we already mentioned, when blood comes into Bowman's capsule through glomerulus, only the small molecules and water are allowed to pass through these three membranes and the remaining blood and platelets reach to Malpighian bodies. These Maldivian bodies filter the blood.