: one of the functional units of the kidney that filters the blood, selectively reabsorbs substances (such as glucose, ions, and amino acids), and excretes nitrogenous waste (such as urea) and excess water and salts in the form of urine
Note: A nephron is made up of a glomerulus, Bowman's capsule, proximal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle, distal convoluted tubule, collecting tubule, and collecting duct.
Each kidney contains 1.5 million filters for blood, called nephrons, which carry away waste products.—
Michelle Morgan Bolton
Michelle Morgan BoltonExamples of nephron in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
These often occur due to progressive damage to the nephrons and glomeruli in the kidneys.
—Mark Gurarie, Health, 25 Sep. 2024
For your kidneys to work properly, the arteries leading to your kidney need to be healthy, as do the nephrons.
—Hallie Levine, Health, 21 June 2024
Infections, some kinds of cancer, and some medications can also cause a condition called nephritis, or inflammation of the nephrons, that can quickly lead to kidney failure.
—Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 16 Feb. 2024
Each nephron servies as a filtering unit for blood running through blood vessels.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 17 May 2021
The filtered waste and extra fluid from the blood then goes into the nephron and then eventually down through the ureters as urine.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 17 May 2021
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Mark Gurarie, Health, 25 Sep. 2024
For your kidneys to work properly, the arteries leading to your kidney need to be healthy, as do the nephrons.
—Hallie Levine, Health, 21 June 2024
Infections, some kinds of cancer, and some medications can also cause a condition called nephritis, or inflammation of the nephrons, that can quickly lead to kidney failure.
—Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 16 Feb. 2024
Each nephron servies as a filtering unit for blood running through blood vessels.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 17 May 2021
The filtered waste and extra fluid from the blood then goes into the nephron and then eventually down through the ureters as urine.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 17 May 2021
Dictionary Entries Near nephron
Cite this Entry
“Nephron.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nephron. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nephron
noun
neph·ron
ˈnef-ˌrän 
: a single unit of the kidney that functions in filtering the blood and forming urine from waste products
Medical Definition
nephron
noun
neph·ron
ˈnef-ˌrän
: one of the functional units of the kidney that filters the blood, selectively reabsorbs substances (as glucose, ions, and amino acids), and excretes nitrogenous waste (as urea) and excess water and salts in the form of urine
Note: A nephron is made up of a glomerulus, Bowman's capsule, proximal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle, distal convoluted tubule, collecting tubule, and collecting duct.
Each kidney contains 1.5 million filters for blood, called nephrons, which carry away waste products.—Michelle Morgan Bolton
Michelle Morgan Bolton… net urinary excretion of potassium relies on secretion in the distal nephron, a process that is augmented by aldosterone.—Eugene P. Rhee et al.
Eugene P. Rhee et al.Love words? Need even more definitions?
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