In the context of the nephron, the basic working (functional) unit of the kidney is called the:

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

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the structure and function of the kidney. The kidney is composed of many microscopic units called nephrons, which are responsible for filtering blood and forming urine.
2. Step 2: Identify the nephron as the basic functional unit of the kidney. Each nephron consists of a renal corpuscle (which includes the glomerulus and Bowman's capsule) and a renal tubule.
3. Step 3: Recognize the glomerulus as a part of the nephron, specifically the network of capillaries where blood filtration begins, but not the entire functional unit itself.
4. Step 4: Differentiate other terms: the ureter is a tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder, and the renal pelvis is the funnel-shaped structure collecting urine from the nephrons before it moves to the ureter.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the nephron, encompassing the glomerulus and associated tubules, is the correct term for the kidney's basic working (functional) unit.