Final answer:
Bowman's capsule is the cup-shaped portion of the nephron surrounding the glomerulus that serves as part of the filtration membrane.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cup-shaped portion of the nephron surrounding the glomerulus that serves as part of the filtration membrane is Bowman's capsule.
The nephron is the basic functional unit of the kidney and consists of several parts including the renal corpuscle, which is made up of the glomerulus and Bowman's capsule. Bowman's capsule surrounds the glomerulus and together they form the filtration membrane.
Think of Bowman's capsule as a cup that catches the filtered substances from the glomerulus. This filtrate then passes through the renal tubule, which includes the loop of Henle, the proximal convoluted tubule, and the distal convoluted tubule, before being processed further and turned into urine.