Final answer:
The nephron is the basic structural and functional unit of the kidney, consisting of a renal corpuscle, renal tubule, and an associated capillary network. It is involved in filtering the blood and forming urine, and the correct answer is (c) Nephron.
Step-by-step explanation:
The basic structural and functional unit of the kidney is the nephron. The nephron is critical in the process of filtering the blood and forming urine. Each kidney contains over one million nephrons, which are composed of a renal corpuscle, a renal tubule, and an associated capillary network that originates from the cortical radiate arteries. While nephrons are predominantly located within the renal cortex, there are two types: cortical nephrons, which make up about 85 percent and are deep in the renal cortex, and juxtamedullary nephrons, which account for the remaining 15 percent and are situated close to the renal medulla.
The renal corpuscle includes the glomerulus and Bowman's capsule, serving as the initial filtering component. Blood filtration is largely determined by particle size within the glomerulus. After filtration, the filtrate moves through the renal tubule, consisting of the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT), the loop of Henle, and the distal convoluted tubule (DCT), where reabsorption and secretion take place. The processed filtrate eventually drains into the minor calyces, then into major calyces, followed by the renal pelvis, and finally exits the kidney through the ureters.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question, 'What is the basic structural and functional unit of the kidney?', is (c) Nephron.