Final answer:
Cortical nephrons are the ones with short loops that do not extend deeply into the medulla and have renal corpuscles near the kidney surface, whereas juxtamedullary nephrons have long loops that extend into the medulla.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nephrons classified as cortical nephrons have short nephron loops and their renal corpuscles are near the kidney surface. In the kidney, the cortex is easily identified as lighter in color compared to the rest of the kidney and contains all of the renal corpuscles as well as both proximal and distal convoluted tubules. Cortical nephrons make up about 85 percent of nephrons and do not have loops of Henle that extend deeply into the medulla. On the other hand, about 15 percent of nephrons are called juxtamedullary nephrons, which are located near the border of the cortex and medulla and have long loops of Henle that plunge into the renal medulla. Understanding the differences between these two types of nephrons is important for comprehending their roles in kidney functions such as concentration and regulation of urine.