nephrology

ne·phrol·o·gy

noun \ni-ˈfrä-lə-jē\

Definition of NEPHROLOGY

: a branch of medicine concerned with the kidneys

— ne·phrol·o·gist \-jist\ noun

First Known Use of NEPHROLOGY

circa 1842

Rhymes with NEPHROLOGY

andrology, anthology, apology, astrology, biology, bryology, cetology, Christology, chronology, conchology, cosmology, cryptology, cytology, dendrology, doxology, ecology, enology, ethnology, ethology, fetology, garbology, gemology, geology, graphology, haplology, histology, homology, horology, hydrology, hymnology, Indology, limnology, lithology, mixology, morphology, mycology, myology, mythology, necrology, neurology, nosology, oncology, ontology, oology, pathology, pedology, penology, petrology, phlebology, phonology, phrenology, phycology, proctology, psychology, scatology, seismology, serology, sexology, sinology, symbology, tautology, technology, tetralogy, theology, topology, trichology, typology, ufology, urology, virology, zoology

ne·phrol·o·gy

noun \ni-ˈfräl-ə-jē\   (Medical Dictionary)

plural ; ne·phrol·o·gies

Medical Definition of NEPHROLOGY

: a medical specialty concerned with the kidneys and especially with their structure, functions, or diseases

nephrology

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Branch of medicine dealing with kidney function and diseases. An understanding of kidney physiology is important not only in treating kidney disease but in knowing the effect of drugs, diet, and hypertension on kidney disease, and vice versa. The first scientific observations of the kidney were made in the mid-17th century by Lorenzo Bellini (1643–1704) and Marcello Malpighi; Carl Ludwig was the first to elaborate on their true physiological function (1844). A key development in nephrology was the permanent arteriovenous shunt (1960), which made repeated hemodialysis feasible, instantly changing the outlook for chronic-renal-disease patients from certain death to 90% survival. See also dialysis, kidney failure, kidney stone, kidney transplant, nephron.