key term - Efferent arteriole

Definition

The efferent arteriole is a small blood vessel that carries blood away from the glomerulus of the kidney after filtration has occurred. It plays a critical role in regulating blood pressure within the glomerulus and influencing the rate of filtration.

Related terms

Glomerulus: A network of capillaries located at the beginning of a nephron in the kidney where waste products are filtered from the blood.

Afferent Arteriole:

The small artery that carries blood towards the glomerulus of each nephron in a kidney, setting up conditions for filtration to occur.

Nephron:

The functional unit of the kidney responsible for removing waste from the body and regulating fluid and electrolyte balance