The descending loop of Henle reabsorbs mostly water and some ions. The medulla region of the kidney is a salty environment. The cells of the descending loop are permeable to water and only slightly permeable to ions. Therefore,
mostly water leaves the filtrate to return to the blood. The concentration of sodium ions increases towards the bottom of the loop.
The ascending loop of Henle becomes impermeable to water and slightly permeable to solutes. Sodium ions diffuse from the filtrate to nearby blood vessels. The top of the ascending loop becomes thick walled and ions are transported via active
transport. This reduces the concentration of the filtrate and replenishes the salty environment of the medulla.
The distal tubule reabsorbs sodium ions, chloride ions, and water depending on the needs of the body. As a person increases the amount of salt taken into the body, the kidneys decrease the amount of sodium reabsorption back
into the blood. That is, more sodium is retained in the tubules. Therefore, the amount of salt excreted in the urine increases. The less the salt intake, the greater the amount of sodium reabsorbed back into the blood, and the amount of
salt excreted in the urine decreases.

Inquiry into Biology (Whitby, ON: McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 2007), 312, fig. 9.5. Reproduced by permission