NEPHROTOME Meaning and
Definition
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A nephrotome refers to the primitive segmental unit of the developing kidney in embryos, which eventually develops into distinct nephrons. During the early stages of kidney development, the nephrotome is a crucial structure responsible for the formation of nephrons, the basic structural and functional units of the kidney.
The nephrotome is composed of several components, including the nephrogenic cord, intermediate mesoderm, and metanephric duct. The nephrogenic cord contains mesenchymal cells that sequentially differentiate into specialized structures involved in filtration and urine production. This differentiation process is regulated by complex genetic interactions and signaling pathways.
As development progresses, some of the cells within the nephrotome transform into renal vesicles, which will further differentiate into a proximal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle, and distal convoluted tubule. Other cells form the collecting duct system, which plays a vital role in regulating water and electrolyte balance in the adult kidney.
The intricate process of nephrotome development ensures the formation of functional nephrons throughout the renal tissue. Disturbances or malformations during nephrotome development can lead to various congenital kidney diseases or abnormalities, affecting kidney function and overall health.
Understanding the formation and differentiation of nephrotomes during embryonic development holds great importance in unraveling the complexities of kidney biology and potentially discovering new therapeutic targets for kidney diseases.
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A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for NEPHROTOME
- nephrotomy
- bephrotome
- mephrotome
- jephrotome
- hephrotome
- nwphrotome
- nsphrotome
- ndphrotome
- nrphrotome
- n4phrotome
- n3phrotome
- neohrotome
- nelhrotome
- ne-hrotome
- ne0hrotome
- nepgrotome
- nepbrotome
- nepnrotome
- nepjrotome
- nepurotome
Etymology of NEPHROTOME
The word "nephrotome" is derived from the combination of two Greek roots: "nephro-" and "-tome".
The root "nephro-" comes from the Greek word "nephros" (νεφρός), which means "kidney".
The suffix "-tome" is derived from the Greek word "tomḗ" (τομή), which means "a cutting" or "a section". This suffix is commonly used in scientific and medical terms to refer to cutting or dividing something.
Therefore, "nephrotome" combines these two roots to refer to a cutting or sectioning instrument used for the kidneys. In the field of anatomy, it can specifically refer to a specialized instrument used to perform a nephrotomy, which is a surgical procedure involving the incision of the kidney.
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