loop of Henle

[ hen-lee ]

noun

, Anatomy.

1. the part of a nephron between the proximal and distal convoluted tubules that extends, in a loop, from the cortex into the medulla of the kidney.

loop of Henle

/ lo̅o̅pəvhĕn′lē /

1. The loop-shaped segment of the nephron of a vertebrate kidney. It plays a role in the transport of ions and water and the concentrating of urine.

Word History and Origins

Origin of loop of Henle¹

1880–85; named after F. G. J. Henle (1809–85), German pathologist

Example Sentences

The pressure tends to balance itself in a healthy person because the bloodstream goes through a formation in the kidney called the Loop of Henle, where the narrowing blood vessel forces excess water and cellular waste such as urea out through the cellular wall into the kidneys, where it is excreted through the ureters into the bladder, and then out of the body via the urethral passageway.

From The Verge