Final answer:
The afferent arteriole is the blood vessel that directly supplies blood to the glomerulus from the cortical radiate artery. It is distinct from the efferent arteriole, which carries filtered blood away from the glomerulus to form the peritubular capillary network.
Step-by-step explanation:
The blood vessel directly feeding the glomerulus with blood from the cortical radiate artery is the afferent arteriole. The renal blood supply process begins at the renal hilum where the renal arteries branch from the aorta, and blood is transported through various arteries until it reaches the cortical radiate arteries. From here, many afferent arterioles branch out and supply blood directly to the capillary network of the nephron, specifically entering the glomeruli for filtration.
The efferent arteriole, on the other hand, is the vessel that exits the glomerulus and forms the peritubular capillary network or vasa recta, which surrounds parts of the renal tubule and participates in the reabsorption and secretion processes that take place within the nephron.
The peritubular capillaries and renal vein, meanwhile, are involved in the pathways for the exit of blood once it has been filtered and processed by the kidneys.