What type of pressure pushes blood into the nephron?

The type of pressure that pushes blood into the nephron is hydrostatic pressure. Hydrostatic pressure refers to the pressure exerted by a fluid at rest due to the force of gravity. In the context of the kidneys, this pressure is generated by the pumping action of the heart as it sends blood into the renal arteries.

As blood flows through the glomeruli, which are capillary networks within the nephron, the hydrostatic pressure forces plasma and small solutes through the glomerular filtration barrier into the Bowman's capsule, initiating the process of urine formation. This process is essential for the kidneys to filter out waste products and regulate water and electrolyte balance.

Osmotic pressure, in contrast, results from the presence of solutes in a solution and typically works to draw water into areas of higher solute concentration. Oncotic pressure, specifically, is a type of osmotic pressure exerted by proteins in the blood plasma and would actually oppose the filtration process rather than facilitate it.

Capillary pressure usually refers to the pressure within the capillaries, but it is not a term specifically used to describe the pressure driving blood into the nephron. Thus, hydrostatic pressure is the correct and most specific term that describes the force that drives