In the urinary system, the functional unit of a kidney is called the _____.

• A. Nephron
• B. Renal cortex
• C. Ureter
• D. Glomerulus

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that the question is asking for the name of the functional unit of the kidney, which is the smallest structure capable of performing the kidney's essential functions.
2. Recall that the kidney is composed of different parts including the renal cortex, ureter, glomerulus, and nephron, each with distinct roles.
3. Identify that the renal cortex is the outer layer of the kidney, not the functional unit itself.
4. Recognize that the ureter is a tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder, so it is not the functional unit.
5. Know that the glomerulus is a part of the nephron involved in filtration, but the entire nephron (which includes the glomerulus and tubules) is the functional unit responsible for filtering blood and forming urine.