Glomerulus

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Glomerulus

Glomerulus (pronunciation: /ɡləˈmɛrʊləs/) is a network of tiny blood vessels, or capillaries, located at the beginning of a nephron in the kidney. The term is derived from the Latin word glomerulus, which means "a small ball" or "a ball of yarn".

The primary function of the glomerulus is to aid in the filtration of blood to form urine. This process is known as glomerular filtration and is the first step in the urine formation process.

Structure

The glomerulus is a tuft of small blood vessels called capillaries located within Bowman's capsule in the kidney. It is made up of two types of cells: endothelial cells that line the interior surface of the capillaries, and mesangial cells that provide structural support.

Function

The main function of the glomerulus is to filter out waste products, excess substances, and electrolytes from the blood, while retaining cells and large proteins, a process known as glomerular filtration. The filtered substances then pass into the renal tubule, where further processing into urine occurs.

Related Terms

  • Nephron: The functional unit of the kidney, consisting of the glomerulus and the renal tubule.
  • Bowman's capsule: A cup-like sac at the beginning of the tubular component of a nephron that encloses the glomerulus.
  • Endothelial cells: Cells that line the interior surface of blood vessels.
  • Mesangial cells: Cells in the glomerulus that provide structural support and regulate blood flow.
  • Renal tubule: The part of a nephron where the filtrate from the glomerulus is converted into urine.

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