glomerulus

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

Definition of glomerulus

plural glomeruli play \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

Origin and Etymology of glomerulus

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1856

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

glomerulus

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

medical Definition of glomerulus

plural glomeruli play \-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