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 Blood flows into a cluster of tiny blood vessels called the glomerulus, which removes waste and excess water from the blood. —

Christine Yu, SELF, 4 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'glomerulus.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler

The first known use of glomerulus was in 1856

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Glomerulus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glomerulus. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.

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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 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

: the convoluted secretory part of a sweat gland

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

called also olfactory glomerulus