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