nephron

[ nef-ron ]

noun

, Anatomy, Zoology.

1. the filtering and excretory unit of the kidney, consisting of the glomerulus and tubules.

nephron

/ ˈnɛfrɒn /

noun

1. any of the minute urine-secreting tubules that form the functional unit of the kidneys

nephron

/ nĕf′rŏn /

1. The functional unit of the kidney, in which waste products are filtered from the blood and urine is produced. The nephron consists of a system of tubules in close association with a network of blood vessels. As fluid that is filtered through the glomerulus of the nephron enters the tubules, its composition is gradually changed by the absorption and secretion of solutes, and it eventually leaves the nephron as urine.
2. See more at Bowman's capsule

Word History and Origins

Origin of nephron¹

1930–35; < German; alteration of Greek nephrós kidney

Example Sentences

This approach will facilitate the creation of patient-specific kidney disease models and enhance efforts to identify nephron targeted drugs.

From Science Daily

The researchers were able to efficiently differentiate the hiPSCs into the kidney proximal tubule, the type of nephron in the kidney that is impaired in infantile cystinosis, as well as in other kidney diseases.

From Science Daily

DNA methylation could be influencing heart disease through the kidneys—which help to control blood pressure—by altering the development of the fetal kidney and its filtering units, called nephrons.

From Scientific American

And each nephron contains a glomerulus, a tuft of tiny vessels that filters the blood as it passes through, and a tubule that sends cleansed blood and essential nutrients back into circulation.

From New York Times

Each kidney features a latticework of roughly one million tiny filtering units, called nephrons.

From Nature