Proximal tubule

Looks like

The first, coiled stretch of each nephron's tubule, lined with brush-bordered cells.

What it does

Reabsorbs most of the filtered water, salt, glucose and amino acids.

Keeping it well

It is the part most injured by low blood pressure, some antibiotics and contrast; drinking enough during illness and medicine reviews help.

Related conditions

• Acute kidney injury
• Amyloidosis (AL and ATTR)
• Bladder cancer
• Chronic kidney disease
• Dehydration & electrolyte disorders
• Diabetes insipidus (arginine vasopressin deficiency)
• Diabetic ketoacidosis
• Glomerulonephritis
• Haemolytic uraemic syndrome
• Hantavirus infection
• High blood pressure
• Hydronephrosis
• Hyperparathyroidism
• IgA nephropathy
• Kidney cancer
• Kidney infection
• Kidney stones
• Lead poisoning
• Leptospirosis (Weil's disease)
• Nephrotic syndrome
• Poisoning & overdose
• Polycystic kidney disease
• Pre-eclampsia
• Renal artery stenosis
• Rhabdomyolysis
• SIADH (inappropriate antidiuretic hormone)
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)
• Toxic shock syndrome
• Tuberous sclerosis complex
• Vesicoureteral reflux
• Wilms tumour (nephroblastoma)
• Yellow fever