The capsule surrounding the glomerulus is called what?

• A. Renal capsule
• B. Calyx
• C. Bowman capsule
• D. Renal pelvis

Answer: (C)

The capsule surrounding the glomerulus is Bowman's capsule, which together with the glomerulus forms the renal corpuscle. Bowman's capsule has an outer parietal layer and an inner visceral layer with podocytes, creating Bowman's space where filtrate from the blood collects before entering the proximal tubule. This structure is specifically part of the filtration unit of the nephron, unlike the renal capsule that covers the kidney itself, the calyxes that collect urine from the papillae, or the renal pelvis that channels urine into the ureter.