The loops of Henle in birds and reptiles are smaller as these animals have developed alternate means of retaining or expelling water and salts. The two segments of the loops of Henle are the descending loop and the ascending loop. As urine enters the descending loop, the loop's permeable walls absorb water. read more
Best Answer: The loop of henle functions to re-absorb water, therefore, the longer the loop of henle, the more water that can be re-absorbed. It is especially important for animals in arid environments to preserve as much water as possible and minimise loss through urine and sweating. read more
The relationship between the ability to concentrate urine and the length of the loops of Henle is not straightforward. There is no clear relationship between actual loop lengths and urine concentration in mammals. Average lengths of loops of Henle are not directly proportional to urine concentration when comparing large with small species of mammals. read more