Blood capillaries and nephrons are intimately associated; describe the structure of their relationship.
Blood enters through the median depression of the kidney via the renal artery which branches out repeatedly in the medulla. In the cortex each of the arterioles branches into a capillary bed, called a glomerulus, contained within a Bowman's capsule. Glomerular capillaries rejoin to form another arteriole which immediately branches into another capillary bed, surrounding the convoluted tubules and the loop of Henle. The capillaries rejoin to form a venule which drains into the renal vein. This vein leaves the kidney through its hilum and empties into the posterior vena cava.
