Glomeruli
Glomeruli
Glomeruli (pronunciation: /ɡlɒˈmɛrʊlaɪ/; singular: glomerulus) are a network of tiny blood vessels, or capillaries, located in the kidney. They are a crucial part of the nephron, the basic functional unit of the kidney.
Etymology
The term "glomerulus" is derived from the Latin word "glomerulus", which means "a small ball". This is a diminutive form of "glomus", meaning "ball". The term is used in anatomy to describe the ball-like network of capillaries in the kidney.
Function
The primary function of the glomeruli is to filter blood. This filtration process is the first step in the formation of urine. The glomeruli allow water, ions, and small molecules to pass into the Bowman's capsule, while larger molecules, such as proteins and blood cells, are retained in the blood.
Related Terms
- Nephron: The basic functional unit of the kidney, each consisting of a glomerulus and a tubule.
- Bowman's capsule: A cup-like sac at the beginning of the tubular component of a nephron in the mammalian kidney that performs the first step in the filtration of blood to form urine.
- Renal corpuscle: The initial blood-filtering component of a nephron. It consists of two structures: a glomerulus and a Bowman's capsule.
- Podocyte: Specialized cells that wrap around the capillaries of the glomerulus.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Glomeruli
- Wikipedia's article - Glomeruli
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