glomerulus

noun

glo·​mer·​u·​lus glə-ˈmer-(y)ə-ləs 

glō-

plural glomeruli glə-ˈmer-(y)ə-ˌlī  -ˌlē 

glō-

: a small convoluted or intertwined mass

especially : a tuft of capillaries at the point of origin of each vertebrate nephron that passes a protein-free filtrate to the surrounding Bowman's capsule

Examples of glomerulus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Damaged glomeruli are unable to filter waste and fluids from the blood, which can eventually lead to kidney problems and failure. — Suchandrima Bhowmik, Health, 30 Sep. 2024

The glomerulus does the filtering, while the tubule sends blood and other crucial material back into the bloodstream. — Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 16 Feb. 2024

Amyloidosis is a group of diseases that produce abnormal proteins called amyloid fibrils that can block and damage glomeruli. — Kashif J. Piracha, Verywell Health, 12 July 2024

Some, such as NSAIDs, damage the kidney’s glomeruli, which perform the first step of filtration and keep blood cells and large proteins out of urine. — Jyoti Madhusoodanan, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, glomerulus, glomerule, diminutive of Latin glomer-, glomus ball; akin to Latin globus globe

First Known Use

1856, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

glomerulus

noun

glo·​mer·​u·​lus glə-ˈmer-(y)ə-ləs, glō- 

plural glomeruli -ˌlī  -ˌlē 

: a small convoluted or intertwined mass (as of organisms, nerve fibers, or capillaries): as

a

: a tuft of capillaries that is covered by epithelium, is situated at the point of origin of each vertebrate nephron, and normally passes a protein-free filtrate from the blood to the surrounding Bowman's capsule see renal corpuscle

b

: the convoluted secretory part of a sweat gland

c

: a dense entanglement of nerve fibers situated in the olfactory bulb and containing the primary synapses of the olfactory pathway

called also olfactory glomerulus