Final answer:
Nephrons in the kidney carry out three main physiological processes: Filtration, Reabsorption, and Secretion. Filtration occurs in the renal corpuscle; Reabsorption primarily in the proximal convoluted tubule; and Secretion in parts such as the distal convoluted tubule.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three physiological processes carried out by the nephrons are:
- Filtration
- Reabsorption
- Secretion
The nephron, as the functional unit of the kidney, begins with filtration in the renal corpuscle. In this process, blood running through the capillary network in the glomerulus filters out almost all solutes, except for proteins. Following filtration, most of the solutes that were filtered are reabsorbed back into the blood from the filtrate, primarily at the proximal convoluted tubule - this is known as tubular reabsorption. Finally, the third key process is secretion, where additional solutes and wastes are secreted into the kidney tubules, which can happen, for instance, in the distal convoluted tubule.