Podocytes make up the epithelial lining of Bowman's capsule, the third layer through which filtration of blood takes place.

Podocytes possess a well-developed endoplasmic reticulum and a large Golgi apparatus, indicative of a high capacity for protein synthesis and post-translational modifications.

There is also growing evidence of a large number of multivesicular bodies and other lysosomal components seen in these cells, indicating a high endocytic activity.

[9] Dynamic changes in glomerular capillary pressure exert both tensile and stretching forces on podocyte foot processes, and can lead to mechanical strain on their cytoskeleton.

Concurrently, fluid flow shear stress is generated by the movement of glomerular ultrafiltrate, exerting a tangential force on the surface of these foot processes.

[15] Small molecules such as water, glucose, and ionic salts are able to pass through the filtration slits and form an ultrafiltrate in the tubular fluid, which is further processed by the nephron to produce urine.

[17] Disruption of the filtration slits or destruction of the podocytes can lead to massive proteinuria, where large amounts of protein are lost from the blood.

An example of this occurs in the congenital disorder Finnish-type nephrosis, which is characterised by neonatal proteinuria leading to end-stage kidney failure.

In 2002 Professor Moin Saleem at the University of Bristol made the first conditionally immortalised human podocyte cell line.

Genetic mutations can cause podocyte dysfunction leading to an inability of the filtration barrier to restrict urinary protein loss.

[23][further explanation needed] Presence of podocytes in urine has been proposed as an early diagnostic marker for preeclampsia.