KIDNEY GLOMERULUS Meaning and
Definition
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The kidney glomerulus is a specialized component of the kidney responsible for the filtration of blood and the formation of urine. It is a microscopic tuft of small blood vessels located within the renal corpuscle, a functional unit of the kidney.
Consisting of a network of tiny capillaries, the glomerulus functions as a filtration unit, enabling the selective passage of essential substances from the blood into the urine while preventing the leakage of larger molecules and blood cells. It is supported by the glomerular basement membrane, which acts as a barrier that filters substances based on their size and electrical charge.
The glomerulus receives blood supply from the afferent arteriole and sends filtered blood back into circulation via the efferent arteriole. This arrangement ensures a high hydrostatic pressure within the glomerulus, facilitating the movement of water, electrolytes, and waste products across the filtration membrane.
The main role of the kidney glomerulus is to filter waste products, such as urea and creatinine, along with excess water, electrolytes, and other substances from the blood. This filtration process occurs under the influence of various physiological factors, including blood pressure, glomerular filtration rate, and the regulation of hormones like antidiuretic hormone and aldosterone.
Any disruption or damage to the glomerulus can lead to impaired kidney function and the development of conditions such as glomerulonephritis, diabetic nephropathy, or other types of kidney diseases characterized by proteinuria, hematuria, and reduced urine output. Diagnosis and treatment of glomerular diseases often involve medical imaging, urinalysis, and microscopic examination of kidney tissue samples.
Common Misspellings for KIDNEY GLOMERULUS
- jidney glomerulus
- midney glomerulus
- lidney glomerulus
- oidney glomerulus
- iidney glomerulus
- kudney glomerulus
- kjdney glomerulus
- kkdney glomerulus
- kodney glomerulus
- k9dney glomerulus
- k8dney glomerulus
- kisney glomerulus
- kixney glomerulus
- kicney glomerulus
- kifney glomerulus
- kirney glomerulus
- kieney glomerulus
- kidbey glomerulus
- kidmey glomerulus
- kidjey glomerulus
Etymology of KIDNEY GLOMERULUS
The word "kidney glomerulus" has its etymology rooted in Latin and Greek.
The term "glomerulus" comes from the Latin word "glomus", meaning "ball of yarn" or "a small ball". In the context of the kidney, the glomerulus is a network of tiny blood vessels that form a tuft-like structure resembling a small ball.
The word "kidney" originates from the Old English word "cȳrena", which was derived from the Proto-Germanic word "kūrōną", meaning "kidney". This, in turn, has its roots in the Latin word "renes", which has the same meaning. The Latin word "renes" is also related to the Greek word "nephros", which means "kidney".
