Tubules

In addition to the glomerulus and the arterioles that lead to and from it, the nephron is made up of a tubular system. The Bowman's capsule is the beginning of the tubular system, and it surrounds the glomerulus. The fluid filtered through the glomerulus enters the Bowmans Capsule and proceeds into the tubules where its volume and concentration are balanced according to the body’s needs.

Glomerular filtration depends on the same opposing forces that produce the exchange of fluids in every capillary in our body: these are hydrostatic pressure and oncotic pressure and together they are known as Starling's forces.