Editing Loop of Henle (section)

{{short description|Part of kidney tissue}}
{{Infobox anatomy
| Name        = Loop of Henle
| Latin       = ansa nephroni
| Greek       = 
| Image       = Gray1128.png
| Caption     = Scheme of renal tubule and its vascular supply (loop of Henle visible center-left)
| Width       = 
| Image2      = 
| Caption2    = 
| Precursor   = [[Metanephrogenic blastema]]
| System      = 
| Artery      = 
| Vein        = 
| Nerve       = 
| Lymph       = 
}}
In the [[kidney]], the '''loop of Henle''' ({{IPAc-en|lang|ˈ|h|ɛ|n|l|i}}) (or '''Henle's loop''', '''Henle loop''',<ref name="Dorlands">{{Citation |author=Elsevier |author-link=Elsevier |title=Dorland's illustrated Medical Dictionary |publisher=Elsevier |url=http://dorlands.com/ |postscript=.}}</ref> '''nephron loop'''<ref>{{TerminologiaHistologica|H3.06}}</ref> or its [[Latin language|Latin]] counterpart '''''ansa nephroni''''') is the portion of a [[nephron]] that leads from the [[proximal convoluted tubule]] to the [[distal convoluted tubule]]. Named after its discoverer, the [[Germany|German]] [[anatomist]] [[Friedrich Gustav Jakob Henle]], the loop of Henle's main function is to create a [[molecular diffusion|concentration gradient]] in the [[renal medulla|medulla]] of the kidney.<ref name=Kaplan.Physio />

By means of a [[countercurrent multiplier]] system, which uses electrolyte pumps, the loop of Henle creates an area of high urea concentration deep in the medulla, near the [[papillary duct]] in the [[collecting duct system]]. Water present in the filtrate in the papillary duct flows through [[aquaporin]] channels out of the duct, moving passively down its concentration gradient. This process reabsorbs water and creates a concentrated [[urine]] for excretion.<ref name=Kaplan.Physio />